Have fun creating these dreamy balloon-themed cards by Rebecca James

What you need...

• Card: white, yellow, grey
  Papers, patterned
  Nesting dies: circles, oval, heart
  Punches: flower, corner rounder
  Dies: nesting, circles, oval, heart
  Ink: Distress, Tea Dye; Archival, Sepia
  Stamps, Alphabet
  Die-cut greetings
  Brown string
  Adhesives

instructions

1. Birthday Surprise - 1 Create a yellow tentfold blank, 10.5cm x 15cm, then round the base corners using a punch. Add a slightly smaller panel of grey fern patterned paper in the centre of the blank.
   
   2 Die-cut nine decorative oval balloons, 3cm x 5cm each. Round the base corners of white card, 9.5cm x 14cm. Arrange the balloons across the panel, trim away the excess, then attach the panel to the blank.
   
   3 Layer up strips of peach, grey and green patterned papers, then wrap brown string around them before attaching to the card using foam pads.
   
   4 Place a die-cut greeting on the right side of the layered border, then add a brown string bow to the left. Embellish the base of each balloon with a bow and gems.

2. Love and Laughter - 1 Fix a patterned yellow panel, 9.5cm x 14.5cm, to the front of a blank, 10cm x 15cm. Place strips of peach and grey flags down the left side. Punch a dotted scalloped border along the base of peach, 6.5cm x 11.5cm. Die-cut small hearts at various heights, then draw balloon strings and bows under each.
   
   2 Add yellow card to a sheet of green floral paper, 7.5cm x 12.5cm. Place the balloon panel on top using foam pads. Attach it to the right side of the design, overlapping the flags.
   
   3 Layer grey and yellow strips and banners just above the scalloped border. Attach a die-cut sentiment, then embellish with pearls and a brown bow. Add pearl-centred punched flowers to each heart-shaped balloon.