TCC125 A Merry Christmas

Hi Friends!

Welcome to the #125 {Home for the Holidays} Challenge at The Card Concept! 

I was inspired by the buffalo plaid along with the colors to create a Classy and Elegant/Mixed Media card!

Since I am still trying to limit my spending and use the stamps that I already own, I paired the retired Bells and Boughs stamp set along with retired designer paper (all Stampin’ Up!).

I also incorporated the Splitcoaststampers SC423 Sketch Challenge for the layout (FYI-their sketch challenges never expire and this one is from Feb 2013).  I mentioned in a previous post, that I have made it a personal goal to try eventually to do all their sketches (they have over 770+ right now and I have completed possibly a third so far, lol)! 

I am also linking to the Retro Rubber Challenge Blog #125 Merry Christmas challenge (this stamp set is from 2010) along with the Simon Says Wednesday "Traditional Christmas" Challenge. the Double Trouble #44 “Wrap It Up (Thing #1- use a patterned holiday paper, Thing #2- add ribbon and/or bows)  and share with the Artystamper Digitals #5 “Winter Holidays”  Challenge .

If you have not had a chance to visit us at The Card Concept or the other challenge sites yet, I hope you will find time to do so- wonderful inspiration from all!

To create this card:

Stamp the poinsettia image onto white cardstock with an alcohol friendly ink (I used Memento Tuxedo Black), color with alcohol markers until you are satisfied.  

Use colored pencils as needed to add additional shadows, etc. and fussy cut the image.

Die cut the two different musical designer series paper panels along with a piece of white cardstock (for the panel under the poinsettia) and the green designer paper (for the horizontal strip under the checked ribbon) with various stitched rectangle dies. 

Once die-cut, emboss the green strip with a music embossing folder and mount all onto black cardstock (trimming close to the edge).

De-static a piece of white cardstock with an embossing powder tool, ink the sentiment with Versafine™  Onyx Black ink, apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.  Die cut with a stitched oval die and mount onto another stitched oval die cut from black cardstock (I used the same size oval and split the die in half so that just a bit of the edge shows around the sentiment).

Layer the musical patterns per the sketch, add the green horizontal strip along with the strip of 1” Black and White checked ribbon (wrapping the ends of the ribbon behind the panel).

Mount the entire panel onto a white card base.

Add the die-cut white rectangle onto the card front with dimensional foam (or, I prefer using chipboard), adhere the sentiment and add the poinsettias (again, using chipboard or dimensional foam).

Add the bow to the corner along with a few pearls around the sentiment and upper right/ lower left-hand corners.

Use a clear glitter pen to add shimmer to the flower petals and an extra fine white paint pen to add highlights to the flower centers.

Close up to try to show the shimmer on the petals :-)

This card took a while to create but I did have the poinsettia image in my stash already colored and fussy cut, so that saved me quite a bit of time :-)!

Stamp Sets:  Bells & Boughs  (retired Stampin’ Up!)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black, Memento™ Tuxedo Black, Spectrum Noir™ Markers- various reds, greens, yellow (sorry I did not write down the codes), Spectrum Noir™ Clear Glitter Pen, Sharpie® Extra Fine White Paint Pen

Cardstock/Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black: retired Merry Music designer series paper and Certainly Celery Hostess Level I Pack (all Stampin’ Up!)

Tools/Accessories: Big Shot™, Sixxiz™ Music Embossing Folder, Dies- My Favorite Things™ Stitched Rectangle A2 STAX Set 1 & Set 2,  Stitched Ovals STAX; Embossing Buddy®, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, 1” Black and White Checked Ribbon, Pearls

Thanks again for taking the time to stop !by  I hope I have inspired you to create your own card based on our {Home for the Holidays}  photo and link up to our gallery at The Card Concept- we would love to see your interpretation!! The challenge is open until Monday, December 16^th at noon, EST.