Stampin’ Up! Hot Air Balloons for the Inspiration Station Challenge

Hi, Stampers!

Are you ready for a new Inspiration Station  Challenge? We’ve got a brand new photo to get your wheels turning—and when I saw it? I was instantly drawn to the vibrant colors and that joyful sense of flight. It felt like those people were literally soaring. That inspiration led me straight to my stash, where I found the Hot Air Balloons set (yep, the clearance rack came through again!). The colors, the movement—it all came together. And when I needed just the right background to make them shine, I reached for the Paper Pumpkin May 2025 kit. The layers were perfect for tucking in a little tag or bookmark, adding just the right touch of whimsy.

So, what about you? What part of the inspiration photo speaks to your creative soul? I’d love to see how it moves you. Once you finish here, I hope you visit our Design Team gallery for some great inspiration and play along!

My Secrets!

Let’s start with the card base…

• Firstly, this A2 card started with white cardstock, 11 x 4-1/4 and scored at 5-1/2.
• The background is one of the card bases from the Paper Pumpkin May 2025 kit, cut to 5-1/4 x 4. Then, two of the layering pieces used to create the pocket.

And now, the fun part!

• Once that was done, I made the large hot air balloon from retired paper called Sunshine & Rainbows, because it had the inspiration photo’s theme. I cut it with the die, along with the layering dies in white cardstock, which I colored with the Granny Apple Green Blends marker before adding the lacy piece on top. They were glued to the hot air balloon as well as the lower die cut. The hot air balloon was popped up with dimensionals to create more depth and also to make sure it wouldn’t interfere with the smaller one on the tag.
• The smaller heart shaped hot air balloon was cut from white cardstock and I colored all of the pieces with Stampin’ Blends. The easiest way to do that for me was to keep the pieces in the die cut, so I cut out another one and used the outline piece to add the colored stripes. (I used the first one on the inside of the card, which was colored with Misty Moonlight Stampin’ Blends to cover up the mess!)
• Bookmark Tag: I used the other half of the Paper Pumpkin card base, cutting it into two 2″ pieces, then kept trimming it down till I liked how it matched the upper line of the “hills.” I glued the hot air balloon in place, then turned it over and stamped the Tags to Go sentiment onto the back.
• I stamped the second Tags to Go sentiment (You’re Going Places) in Misty Moonlight ink and trimmed it down to a 2″ strip then used the Banners Pick a Punch to create a fun arrow banner before popping it up with dimensionals.
• Finally, I added the birds for a little life to the front of the card.

Then, on the inside…

• So, since I had another hot air balloon that I used to create the second one. As I mentioned already, I colored the outline balloon with Misty Moonlight Stampin’ Blends till I was happy that you couldn’t see the other colors. Then, I inserted the striped pieces after the outline had been glued to the background balloon.
• I cut the Take to the Sky designer paper to 5-1/4 x 4 and glued it to the top of the inside of the card.
• Lastly, I cut up one of the Paper Pumpkin kit envelopes down to 5-1/4 x 4 and layered white cardstock on top. I am leaving it without a sentiment so I can chose one specific to the occasion in the future.

I hope to share my card with these challenges:

1. 613 Avenue Create
2. Allsorts
3. A Place To Start
4. Crafty Catz
5. Krafty Chicks 
6. NBUS Hot Air Balloon dies, new Paper Pumpkin kit)
7. Pammie’s Inky Pinkies Challenges
8. A Perfect Time to Craft
9. Simon Says Stamp Wednesday

So, what do you think of my card today? I love hearing from you!

Please leave a comment if you have any questions or comments about my project today.

If you enjoyed my project today, please be sure to…

• Firstly, visit my Gallery and Fun Fold Gallery for lots of ideas, and…
• Enter the Creative Creases Challenge HERE with any fun fold card!
• Also, follow me on Pinterest
• You can see My Secret Sale HERE
• Finally, you find out what’s new with SU HERE

My project supply list.

Want to place an order through me? Use the Demonstrator Locator to find me under “Debbie Mageed, Illinois” to place an order if you don’t already have a demonstrator. Your support is greatly appreciated!

Tags To Go Cling Stamp Set (English) [165569] $21.00	Paper Pumpkin Subscription [166815] $27.00	Sunshine & Rainbows 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper [158126] $0.00	Take To The Sky 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper [163436] $12.50	Misty Moonlight Classic Stampin' Pad [153118] $9.00	Misty Moonlight Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [153108] $11.00
Azure Afternoon Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack [161672] $11.00	Granny Apple Green Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [154885] $11.00	Daffodil Delight Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [154883] $11.00	Pumpkin Pie Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [154897] $11.00	Poppy Parade Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [154958] $11.00	Hot Air Balloon Dies [162754] $30.00
Banners Pick A Punch [153608] $27.00	Petal Pink & White 1/4" (6.4 Mm) Diagonal Trim Combo Pack [163417] $10.00	Adhesive Backed Dragonflies & Birds [162743] $8.50

Thanks for scrolling to the end!

They say that daughters bond with babies… but have you ever watched a dad fall in love with his newborn? I talk about my grandsons all the time, but today it’s about their incredible dad—my son, Adam. Since baby Musa was born, Adam has been home on paternity leave and the bond between them is pure magic. Musa literally searches for him when he’s not there. That kind of connection? It’s something special. Something I wish every dad and son could experience.

Today, I’m just a proud mama and Oma. Cheering on my son as he shows up, bonds deeply, and raises two amazing boys. If you’re witnessing something beautiful in your family—share it. Let’s celebrate these moments that matter.