adventure of making it up as I go along

Making it up as I go along is one of my favorite ways to have an adventure, but I don't often apply it to card making - there are so many talented artists sharing their creations and ideas that I make most of my cards using the Copy And Share Everything (CASE) technique.  This card was in bits and pieces off to the side of my work area waiting for inspiration, which was exactly what the Sunday Stamps sketch provided:

stamp sets - Balloon Adventures, Perpetual Birthday Calendar; ink - Versamark, Emerald Envy; Stampin' Write markers - Pumpkin Pie, Crushed Curry, Emerald Envy, Pacific Point; mask (stencil) - Hearts & Stars; card stock - Whisper White, Crushed Curry, Pacific Point, Pumpkin Pie; designer series paper - Party Animal; baker's twine - Crushed Curry; punch - Medium Star; Big Shot with Stars framelits

Off to the side of my work area were three punched stars I brought home from the table decor at the OnStage event I attended in November.  My table mates probably thought I was a bit odd (ok, so they were right), but I couldn't stand to think they might get tossed out with the recycling!  There was also a card base that got set aside during a Card Buffet because I'd cut and/or scored it incorrectly, and that last little bit of baker's twine.  Designer series paper for the inside of the card to peek out at behind the short front gave me a color palette to work with, but what to do with all that blank space?  I thought the stars mask would work but maybe Pumpkin Pie ink would be too dark?  I used my last clean sponge dauber to apply Versamark, but that was a bit too subtle.  Oh, and I was missing a layer from the sketch, too, so I found a piece of Pacific Point.  Then it seemed a little too bright.  Adding a piece of Whisper White would tone it down and allow the sentiment to stand out, but then there was too much blank space again.  I really liked the little cluster of stars in the Perpetual Birthday Calendar set, but I couldn't decide which color would keep it balanced.  Now you may understand why I usually CASE the cards I make!

corrected 1/20 because I forgot the link to Sunday Stamps - aack!