In the air

Hello and welcome again to another challenge at the Alphabet challenge blog. As we've finished another A to Z, we'll go straight back to A for another spin on the Alphabet wheel. We'd like to see things that are in the air, meaning you'll have plenty of options to pick: from balloons to birds to wheather phenomena... just have a look at what the DT has created for you to get some inspiration! I spent some time narrowing down my ideas, looking through my digi stash for something suitable. 

However, as I had a bit of time between appointments, I opted for a project that would take more time than usual, so I started searching my stash for suitable pickpoint patterns (and it wasn't a time issue only - I REALLY wanted to do some paper embroidery after ages). I decided to stitch the pattern of a hot air balloon on white background, and I wanted to go for a monochrome design. But I had a twist in mind before I went to work...

I planned to create a purple balloon using different shades of purple, and I thought it would be great to embellish the balloon with a couple of flowers. At first, I imagined adding paper flowers on the corners/sides of the image itself, then I thought about adding florals onto the balloon itself. But while digging through my stash I found something way more interesting: a sheet of stickers featuring light purple bouquets. I must have bought it ages ago, and it inspired me to incorporate the bouquet into the stitched image itself. Namely, I decided to replace the hot air balloon basket with a bouquet, making it look like the balloon is carrying a huge flower arrangement.

I also wanted to use a pink/purple sheet of origami paper which led to the idea of creating a monochrome card in the first place. I decided to make it my background paper, and then used three different metallic purple yarns to stitch the balloon image.

I then placed the bouquet sticker onto the white cardboard. Once that was done, I enhanced said cardboard with a piece of light purple paper. I find myself doing this a lot, and I think it creates a nice transition between the main motif and the background. It also seems to frame the picture nicely. Then, I figured it would look even better if I raised the hot air balloon a bit - I did so using 3D adhesive pads. 

In the very end, I added a couple of purple gemstones for a bit more bling. I think they go well with the shimmering yarns as well as the bits of shimmer that can be found in the flower bouquet.

I'm not entirely sure about my stitching though - I decided to change the pattern a bit, resp. changing the way I stitched it. Instead of stopping with one colour where the next starts, I decided to follow the shape of the hot air balloon all the way from one side of the other. It makes the stitching a bit thicker (which I don't like that much), but I do like how the lines are overlapping. I don't have a version with the original stitching, but I do wonder  whether I should have just followed the pattern the way it was intended? If you were the author of the design, would you want people to follow it as planned, or would you let them create their own interpretation? Would you be offended if somebody altered your idea?  

challenges: 

- krafty chicks: ATG

- a place to start: ATG

- allsorts challengeblog: ATG

- as you like it: brights or pastels (I'll use bright colours from time to time, but I'll go with pastels mostly. I have more papers that go with pastels, and I feel like pastel colours are suitable for everything and everyone. I'm not an extrovert/loud/outgoing person, and I think it shows with my projects being more subtile when it comes to the colour choice.)

- classicdesignchallenge: ATG DT 

- crafty catz: ATG

- crafty gals corner: ATG with optional twist "spring"

- creative inspirations: Easter/spring

- do-all kreatives: flowers as eye-catcher

- everybody art: birthday

- lil patch of crafty friends: ATG handmade

- little red wagon: New York state of mind (travel, skylines, urban scenes - I like to think that a hot ait balloon goes with the "travel" theme)

- lovethoseprettypapers: ATG patterned papers

- love to craft: ATG

- male room: vehicles/transport

- traumfabrik: Code 3 (at least 3 colours - purple, green, red)

- wortartwednesday: ATG