MFT Creative Challenge | Circle STAX

The MFT Design Team Creative Challenge is a monthly feature, where we are challenged to explore our creative side using a specific theme, product, or technique. This month, we were challenged to create with our Circle STAX.  Be sure to check out the MFT Blog for a list of all participating designers who have a project to share with you today.

For my card today, I used Circle STAX Set 2 Die-namics to make some 3D balloons.

My card is a happy little scene, high in the sky with Sno Cone Card Stock and Jumbo Cloud STAX Die-namics made from Sweet Tooth Card Stock.  The sentiment is from the set, On the Line.

I have a tutorial for you today and these fun 3D elements really make a card pop!

Here is how I made the balloons:

Supplies needed:

• Patterned paper (I am using Happy Days 6x6 from Echo Park)
• Circle STAX Die-namics (I am using Circle STAX Set 2)
• Scoring pad or paper trimmer with a scoring tool
• Bone folder
• Glue (I am using Best Glue Ever, which lets me move the paper in place before it sets)

First, out 6 circles from your patterned paper.

After cutting them, score each circle down the center with a bone folder to create a nice straight crease.  This particular circle size is 1-1/4", so I scored it at 5/8", which I marked with black ink so you can see.

Choose which side of the patterned paper you'd like your balloon/sphere to be and fold so your chosen pattern is on the inside of the fold.  I want my sphere to be red, so I folded the red inside like so -

Once the circles are folded, glue each outside edge together, making sure the glue is fairly close to the outside edges.  You don't want to have gaps between the papers, but you don't want glue oozing out either.

Continue to glue the halves of the circles together until you've created a nice little stack of 6.

When you lay it flat, it is a nice little hemisphere.  Math and paper crafting go together like peas and carrots.

After assembling the dimensional balloon, I glued it over the top of a piece of Flax Twine and fluffed up the balloon so it's nice and even. 

The best part about these fun embellishments is you can lay them flat and slip the card into an envelope for mailing.  After the card arrives, it is super easy to re-fluff them for display. 

Be sure to stop on over to the MFT Blog for a complete list of all the designers playing along in this month's Creative Challenge.

You can find these fun items in the MFT Boutique:

Thanks for stopping by!

recipe - 
stamps: on the line (mft)
paper: sweet tooth (mft), sno cone (mft), happy days 6x6 (echo park)
ink: wild cherry (mft)
accessories: flax twine (twinery), jumbo clouds stax die-namics (mft), circle stax set 2 die-namics (mft), fishtail flags layers stax die-namics (mft), foam tape