Hello, crafty friends! Today, I’m excited to share a card design that’s all about fun, whimsy, and simplicity. If you’re like me, you love projects that pack a visual punch without overwhelming details, and that’s exactly what this clean and simple (CAS) card does. The star of the show is the Balloon Animals 2 Stamp Set from The Rabbit Hole Designs, and let me tell you—it’s a blast to work with! Balloon animals always bring such a playful energy, and I knew this set would be perfect for a bold yet simple design that would pop right off the card front.
Let’s dive into what makes this card special, from the stamped balloon animal butterflies to some subtle but impactful watercoloring. I’ll also share a few of my go-to tips for creating balanced CAS designs that are sure to impress.
What's Poppin!? CAS Card:
The Joy of CAS Design with a Twist
Creating clean and simple (CAS) cards is like finding the perfect balance between minimalism and flair. While it might seem easy at first glance, achieving a look that’s simple yet eye-catching can be a fun challenge. For this card, I decided to keep the focus on just one element—the balloon animal butterfly—repeating it three times along the left side of the card to create visual flow.
I chose a soft ink, Memento’s Toffee Crunch, for stamping because I wanted an outline that wouldn’t take away from the watercolor look but would still add subtle definition. If you’re new to CAS cards, try focusing on just one unique element. By giving it room to breathe, you allow the design to shine while keeping it clean.
Watercoloring with Distress Reinkers: Adding Vibrant Color
When it comes to watercoloring, Distress Reinkers are a personal favorite of mine. They’re packed with pigment, making it easy to achieve bold color with just a drop. For this card, I wanted the balloon animals to have that lively, festive feel, so I chose a variety of bright colors: Abandoned Coral, Candied Apple, Wild Honey, Twisted Citron, Lucky Clover, Peacock Feathers, Salty Ocean, Picked Raspberry, and Seedless Preserves.
A little story here—I remember the first time I tried watercoloring with Distress Reinkers. I was so surprised by how easily the colors moved across the paper! Unlike traditional watercolor paints, Distress Reinkers have this intense vibrancy that brings designs to life, especially for CAS projects like this. The trick is to keep your brush slightly damp and use small strokes, letting each color dry a bit before adding the next to avoid unwanted blending.
Pro Tip: If you’re working with vibrant colors, try letting each layer dry completely before moving on. This way, the colors stay crisp and defined, giving your images that extra pop.
Adding Depth with a Blended Background
Now, let’s talk about backgrounds. Even in a CAS card, a simple background can ground the design and make your focal elements stand out. Here, I wanted to add a subtle “landing area” behind the butterflies, so I reached for the Background Basics Stencil Set from Penny Black and used the smaller rectangle stencil.
For ink blending, I chose a soft, cool palette of Speckled Egg, Evergreen Bough, and Pine Needles Distress Inks. This combination added just enough contrast to make the butterflies stand out without overpowering the watercolor. My CottonTail Blending Brushes came in handy here—they’re great for getting a smooth blend, especially in small areas like this.
Pro Tip: When ink blending, start with the lightest color and work your way to the darkest. This creates a natural gradient that adds depth without adding too much bulk to your design. And remember, a light hand goes a long way in CAS designs!
Finishing Touches: Sentiment, Highlights, and a Little Sparkle
A CAS card is all about the details. Once the watercoloring and background were complete, I stamped a simple sentiment in Versafine Clair Nocturne Ink. I love how crisp and dark this ink is—it provides the perfect contrast against softer colors.
I couldn’t resist adding a few white gel pen highlights to the butterflies to make them look shiny, like real balloon animals. I used my Uni-ball White Signo Gel Pen for this step; it’s my go-to for adding highlights because it’s opaque and dries quickly. Finally, I added a few Clear Sparkle Enamel Dots from The Rabbit Hole Designs to give a touch of sparkle. These little embellishments add a hint of playfulness and help draw the eye to the main design.
Pro Tip: Less is often more in CAS designs. Choose just a few embellishments and place them intentionally. Here, a trio of enamel dots was all I needed to add a hint of shine without taking away from the card’s clean look.
Why This Card Works
What I love most about this card is its simplicity. Each element—the soft watercolor, the minimal background, the subtle sparkle—comes together to create a look that’s playful but elegant. CAS designs like this one are a great way to highlight unique stamps, especially ones with fun shapes or themes like balloon animals.
If you’re looking to experiment with CAS designs, try choosing one focal stamp and a handful of complementary colors. Give yourself permission to leave white space; it creates a sense of balance that feels light and fresh.
Final Thoughts
Thanks so much for stopping by to check out this fun balloon animal card! I hope it inspires you to dive into CAS design and play around with vibrant colors and playful layouts. Whether you’re new to card making or a seasoned crafter, sometimes the simplest designs can be the most impactful. If you give this project a try, I’d love to see your creations!
And, as always, a quick note that some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which help support more projects and tutorials. Thank you for your support, and happy crafting!
Materials Used:
Here you will find the list of supplies that I used to create today's card. All supplies are linked to supply sources below. Compensated affiliate links may be used at no cost to you.
Happy Stampin'
Rick Adkins
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