TCC130 Irish Blessing

Hi Friends!

Welcome to The Card Concept #130 {Irish Coffee } Challenge! 

I just love this sweet vignette of Irish items, don’t you?  The shamrocks, greens along with the neutrals/browns inspired by Clean and Layered card!

As I am still determined to use my older stamps, I inked up the Blessings image (retired Verve Stamps) and also used some older designer paper from my massive stash (not sure of the manufacturer since I tend to cut my 12x12 sheets into either 6x6 or 4x6 pieces).

I also incorporated the Splitcoaststampers SC122 Sketch Challenge into the design and will also be linking to The Sisterhood of Crafters “Patterned Paper” Challenge, the Tuesday Throwdown #452 "Power Poppy-Good Luck" Challenge and the Retro Rubber #129 “Anything Goes” Challenge (the  retired Verve Blessings stamp image used is at least ten years old).

I had fun creating this fairly quick card:

De-static a piece of white cardstock with an embossing powder tool.  Position the stamp image into a MISTI™ stamping tool (or use an acrylic block), ink with Versafine™ Onyx Black ink, stamp onto the prepared cardstock, apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool. 

Once the embossing has cooled, die cut the image with a stitched rectangle die, mount onto espresso cardstock and trim close to the edge.

Die cut another piece of white cardstock with a stitched rectangle die for the background, mount onto espresso cardstock and trim close to the edge.

Layer the green patterned paper onto espresso cardstock for the horizontal strip, mount onto the background panel and adhere the entire panel to the white card base.

Mount the layered Blessings sentiment onto the card front with dimensional foam or chipboard (lately, I have preferred chipboard).

Create the tiny shamrocks with a heart punch from various green patterned papers (FYI- I used the retired Stampin’ Up Heart Trio Punch- the smallest heart).

Add a tiny sliver of espresso cardstock for each shamrock- I had a few of these on my desk from trimming the layers on the sentiment image as well as the background (they are delicate but surprisingly strong :-)). 

Fold each little heart in half (this was the most time consuming part of the card, lol!) and add a drop of glue to the “stem” so you can add the little hearts to create the shamrocks (I wanted to have lucky four leaf clover/shamrocks so I used four hearts for each).

Use a clear glitter pen to add shimmer to each “leaf” and add a pearl to the center of each shamrock.

Finish off the card with a few green gems to the bottom of the sentiment (I had these green gems in my stash forever, so I was thrilled to use a few).

Stamp Sets:  Blessings (retired Verve Stamps)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black, Spectrum Noir™ Clear Glitter Pen

Cardstock/Paper: Whisper White, Early Espresso (both Stampin’ Up!), misc. green patterned paper from my stash

Tools/Accessories: Gemini, Jr™, MFT Stitched Rectangle A2 Set 1 STAX Dies, MISTI™, retired Heart Trio Punch (Stampin’ Up!). Embossing Buddy®, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Pearls, Green Rhinestones

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