Inkspirations Sketch Challenge #55

Hi there!
My eldest son Rohan is turning 10 on Saturday (sob, sob - all I hear from him is he is turning double figures and all I keep thinking is he's not my little baby anymore!). As he is getting to that age where I can no longer go down the cute road when making a card, I needed some inspiration so I turned to this week's Inkspirations Sketch Challenge #55 which is a fantastic one!! The options with this sketch are endless! Here it is:

I started with a white base and added a Kraft mat for the square grid. I found some Riding Hood Red and Baja Breeze designer paper and decided to add some yellow designer paper from October Afternoon's Thrift shop collection (love this paper!). I then cut my stars from chipboard and also punched out 5 stars from acetate to layer on top. Before adhering  the acetate, I used some White Staz On ink to stamp different patterns on each. I then added some glue dots behind the ink before positioning them on top of the chipboard stars.

To vary the grid, I used two Lemon Zest buttons tied with twine and cross stitched the other squares with the same twine.  The sentiment was stamped using Birthday Basics set from Papertrey Ink in Riding Hood Red ink and cut into a banner which I tucked in behind my main circle image after it had been popped up on foam adhesive.

On the inside, I carried the patterned paper theme, but cutting smaller squares from the same paper and layering my sentiment, also from the Birthday Basics set on top.

I think I just made the cut off for this week's challenge - my card was put on hold while I followed Cyclone Yasi - we have many friends in Cairns as we lived there up until 2 years ago and we were very concerned as some have properties on the Northern Beaches. We have heard today that they are all safe, although they did get battered with fierce winds, causing damage to a lot of the area around them and loss of power. Our thoughts are with those who were in the direct path of the Cyclone though who have suffered unimaginable damage to agriculture and properties. We were there in Cyclone Larry, which was a frightening experience, but the impact of Yasi is so much more devastating for these small towns. 

Supplies

Stamps: Birthday Basics, Around and About Sentiments (PTI)

Cardstock: Stampers Select White (PTI); Thrift Shop Collection (October Afternoon); Kraft, Riding Hood Red, Riding Hood Red designer paper, Baja Breeze designer paper (SU)

Ink: Riding Hood Red (SU); Cotton White Stazon (Tsukineko)

Accessories: Acetate; twine, dimensionals, Star Punch (SU);circle nestabilities (Spellbinders); Lemon Zest button (PTI); American Craft thickers