The Card Concept #103 {Holiday Treats}

Hi Friends!

I hope all of you had a wonderful weekend and Thanksgiving!  We enjoyed visiting with our family and definitely ate too much :-)  The last two months have been celebrations galore- two weddings (twin nieces both married- one in October and the other in November), Thanksgiving, surprise birthday parties and more!!

Now it's time for The Card Concept #103 {Holiday Treats} Challenge and what a fun inspiration photo we have for you!  The various shades of red and green inspired me to create a Shabby Chic/Mixed Media card!  I needed a surprise birthday card for a family member who loves cardinals and thought that this color combination would be perfect!

I am also linking this card to the Simon Says Wednesday "Anything Goes" Challenge.

Just a reminder that the Card Concept is a bi-weekly challenge that has an inspiration photo along with a suggestion of design styles that you can choose from to create your card- Clean and Simple, Clean and Graphic, Clean and Layered, Shabby Chic, Freestyle Collage, Classy and Elegant and Mixed Media (or you can combine several styles for your own style).

If you have not had a chance to visit us at The Card Concept or the Word Art Wednesday  challenge site yet, I hope you will find time to do so- gorgeous inspiration from all!

To create this card:

1). De-static two pieces of white cardstock with an embossing powder tool, stamp the cardinal image from Cardinal (Our Daily Bread Designs) with archival black ink onto one piece and the verse sentiments from Birthday Doily (Our Daily Bread Designs) onto the other.  Apply clear embossing powder and heat set with the heat tool.  Once the embossing has cooled, fussy cut the cardinal image, die cut the sentiment with a stitched circle die and hand trim the birthday greeting into a banner.

2). Using ink from water-based markers, watercolor the cardinal image (I scribble some of the ink from the marker onto a silicone mat and use a water brush to watercolor).  Once you are satisfied with the watercolor, use the markers directly to add shadows and depth.

3). Trim a piece of olive designer paper to approx. 4” x 5 ¼”, use a distressing tool to distress the edges and mount onto a piece of espresso cardstock. 

4). Layer a strip of white crochet lace and espresso satin ribbon over the background panel and wrap the edges of the ribbon behind the card front.  Mount the card front onto a white card base.

5). Die cut a stitched square from white cardstock and mount onto a piece of espresso cardstock.  Trim the espresso layer close to the die cut edge and mount onto the card front with dimensional foam.

6). Mount the banner greeting and die cut circle sentiment onto espresso cardstock.  Layer both onto the card front using dimensional foam in the area that is not layered onto the die cut square.

7). Adhere the cardinal image with dimensional foam. Add a few pearls to the corner of the square as well as the sentiment.

8). To finish off the card, use an extra fine white paint pen to add a few white highlights to the pine cones as well as the cardinal’s eye.

 Stamp Sets: Cardinal, Birthday Doily (Our Daily Bread Designs)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black, Stampin’ Write Markers- Cherry Cobbler, Poppy Parade, Basic Black, Early Espresso, Mossy Meadow; Sharpie® Extra Fine White Paint Pen

Cardstock/Paper: Whisper White, Early Espresso (Stampin’ Up!); misc. olive designer paper (not sure of manufacturer)

Tools/Accessories:  Big Shot™, My Favorite Things Stitched Square STAX and Stitched Circle STAX Dies, Circle Dies (retired SU!), Embossing Powder Tool, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Distressing Tool, 5/8” Early Espresso Satin Ribbon, White Crochet Lace Trim, Pearls

Thanks again for taking the time to stop by- I hope you will join us for our {HolidayTreats} Challenge at The Card Concept- we would love to see your card in our gallery!!