DCM - Flag Pole

Good morning!

Much in the tradition of Dr Sheldon Cooper's online series, we're having "Fun with Flags" over on the Daring Cardmakers blog today.

As Kathy explains: Take your inspiration from the flag of a country other than your own - there are plenty to choose from! You can use an element from the flag, the design, the colours...

Well, the flag of Kiribati provided the perfect inspiration for a card I had in mind:

Here are some facts about the flag (can't have fun with flags without the facts!):

• "The bird is a frigate bird which represents power, freedom and Kiribati cultural dance patterns".
• "The rising sun is the tropical sun as Kiribati lies astride the Equator".
• "The sea is the Pacific Ocean which surrounds Kiribati".

And here's how I took that inspiration and transformed it into a card:

Stamps: Hello Bluebird - Rainbow Script, Hero Arts - Color Layering Sea & Sky
Dies: Pinkfresh Studio - Pop Out Sunburst, Hero Arts - Infinity Nesting Rectangles
Other: Distress Oxides

The main focal point is the blazing yellow sun in the form of blended yellow Distress Oxides radiating behind the Pop Out Sunburst die from Pinkfresh Studio. I cut the Sunburst from yellow glitter cardstock, popped up on more yellow cutouts of the die for dimension.

The ink blending goes from Abandoned Coral, Picked Raspberry, Kitsch Flamingo, into Dried Marigold at the top for the sky, Fossilized Amber, Mustard Seed, and Squeezed Lemonade for the sun, down to Salvaged Patina, Mermaid Lagoon, and Salty Ocean to depict the Pacific waves.

Before assembling the card, I gave the blended background a good spritz with water and left it to dry.

Then I stamped the black silhouette "frigate birds" from the Hero Arts Sea & Sky stamp set so they'd peek out behind the sun rays.

I then assembled the Sunburst die over the background and was playing around with a few ways to finish the card when I realised (of course after sticking everything down!) that I just wanted a simple stamped sentiment in the middle circle (thank you Rainbow Script stamps from Hello Bluebird!) and was able to add this neatly with the MISTI. Phew!

To bring everything together, the card needed a good frame.

So I created a frame with the Infinity Rectangle dies from Hero Arts and black cardstock from Concord & 9th (this black cardstock is lovely and smooth!) and then layered  the panel up on another piece of black cardstock for extra pop.

Finally, I added a few golden rainbow sequins that pick out those sunny tones.

Make sure you check out the wonderful projects from the rest of the design team here, and play long if you can!

Happy crafting!

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Hello Bluebird - Rainbow Script stamps Shop at: MISC	Hero Arts - Color Layering Sea & Sky stamps Shop at: SBC | SHC	Pinkfresh Studio - Pop Out Sunburst die Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC	Hero Arts - Infinity Nesting Rectangles dies Shop at: EH | SBC | SHC
Distress Oxide ink pad - Abandoned Coral Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC	Distress Oxide ink pad - Dried Marigold Shop at: EH | SBC	Distress Oxide ink pad - Fossilized Amber Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC	Distress Oxide ink pad - Kitsch Flamingo Shop at: EH | SBC | SHC
Distress Oxide ink pad - Mermaid Lagoon Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC	Distress Oxide ink pad - Mustard Seed Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC	Distress Oxide ink pad - Picked Raspberry Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC	Distress Oxide ink pad - Salty Ocean Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC
Distress Oxide ink pad - Salvaged Patina Shop at: EH | SBC	Distress Oxide ink pad - Squeezed Lemonade Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC	Versafine - Onyx Black ink pad Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC	Concord & 9th - Assorted cardstock pack Shop at: EH | MISC | SHC
Neenah Classic Crest 110 lb smooth Solar White cardstock Shop at: AZ | EH | SSS	Ranger - Multi-Medium Matte adhesive Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC	Sakura - Quickie Glue pen Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC	Tombow - Mono-Multi liquid glue Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC
Lawn Fawn - Stamp shammy cleaner Shop at: EH | SBC | SHC	MISTI creative corners Shop at: EH | SBC	MISTI stamping tool Shop at: EH | SBC	Craft blending brushes Shop at: AZ
Ranger - Mini round ink blending tools Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC	Taylored Expressions - Blender Brushes Shop at: MISC	Tim Holtz - Distress Sprayer Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC	Tim Holtz - Stampers Anonymous Splat Box Shop at: AZ | SBC | SHC
Waffle Flower - Mini Media Mat Shop at: EH | SBC | SHC	Sizzix - Big Shot machine Shop at: AZ | SBC	Tim Holtz - Tonic guillotine trimmer (maxi) Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC	Tim Holtz - Tonic guillotine trimmer (small) Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC

Comments

[Angelnorth]

Beautiful blending Nat, this is gorgeous!