CAS Mix Up February Challenge - rain or shine

It's the 1st of the month and time for a new challenge for CAS Mix Up.
I am excited to be hosting my first challenge here and I chose Dimensional Die-cuts as the theme because die-cutting is one of my favorite techniques.

We have a wonderful Guest Designer, Arlene (Sundaystamper Papercrafts), for February.

Here's my card:

Using Dimensional die-cuts, Heat-embossing, Sponging, and Stamping

[How I made the card]
1. Heat-embossed the balloon string background stamp on the card base with White Satin Pearl. (*1)
2. Sponged a piece of vellum with the light blue distress ink, dried it well, and die-cut it with the rain drop dies. Then I curled the die-cuts with a size 2 watercolor brush handle (*2).
3. Die-cut an umbrella and shaped the spaces between the stays with a stylus. Brushed the stays and the handle with Aqua Shimmer pen.
4. Die-cut letters to make "rain" and "shine" from Island Indigo cardstock.
5. Glued the tip of the raindrops onto the heat-embossed card base. (*3)
6. Put some Dimensionals behind the umbrella to add dimension and adhered it to the card base.
7. Glued the words, "rain", and "shine" onto the card base. Stamped the "or" of the "Naughty or Nice?" stamp to complete the sentiment.

*1. I brushed off some embossing powder before heating it so that the pattern is only partially heat-embossed, not the entire card.
*2. It worked better than a stylus handle because the die-cuts were very small.
*3. Gina K Connect Glue didn't leave any marks on the vellum after it dried.


If you're mailing this kind of card with dimensions, a protective case is helpful.
I use A2 Clear Card Boxes from My Favorite Things. (Sorry, they're discontinued, but other companies make similar items.)

The challenge is open until February 24th. I'd love to see your CAS card with dimensional die-cuts in the gallery!

Stamp: Balloon Strings, Gift Tag Greetings (My Favorite Things)
Paper: Whisper White, Island Indigo (Stampin' Up!), Translucent Vellum (My Favorite Things)
Ink: Island Indigo (Stampin' Up!), Distress Ink (Broken China - Ranger), VersaMark (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Die-namics Color Drops STAX, Layered Umbrella, Birdie Brown Alphabet & Numbers), Embossing Powder (White Satin Pearl - Hero Arts), Nuvo Aqua Shimmer (Glitter Gloss), Dimensionals (Stampin' Up!)