Christmas card number 1 - Penny Black and bird

Hi blogging friends

As promised (if you managed to catch my last post), over the next week, I am sharing a couple of Christmas cards that I made at the last minute just before Christmas (as I had been unwell again since November) - and the card I am sharing today, I gave to my husband.   Luckily, he doesn't mind cute and sweet so that makes life very easy :-)  And I started it on the 23rd December and finished it on the afternoon of the 24th - inbetween doing a couple of other Christmas cards!

This is also my card for the following Challenges:

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - December - Christmas/Holidays
Holly Jolly Christmas Challenge - December - Anything Goes 
Craftyhazelnut's Challenge Extra - December - Anything Goes 

The card base is KW Doggett Knight white smooth cardstock and first of all, I worked out where I was going to stamp the image so I knew where to do the bottom dry embossing.  The snowflakes embossing is a border folder from an older Cuttlebug (Provocraft) set called Winter Borders.  This set is still readily available in Australia - not sure about the rest of the world as I rarely buy from overseas these days and therefore can no longer recommend any stores.  You can check out my favourite Australian suppliers at the tab just under my blog header.

I added a score line above and below the embossing using a Martha Stewart Mini Score board and trimmed off the excess cardstock at the bottom.  I punched a scrap of aqua glitter cardstock using an EK Success Scalloped Scallops border punch then attached it using Ranger Wonder tape.

The image is from a Penny Black clear set called 'Christmas Friends' and was stamped using Memento Tuxedo Black ink.  I coloured the image using Prismacolor + Derwent Coloursoft pencils, paper stumps and Odourless Mineral Spirits ie: using the Gamsol Magic aka Magic Coloured Pencil technique.  I actually messed up the colouring on the bird as I coloured him in red and orange and it looked awful against the coolness of the colours on the hedgehog - so I simply restamped and coloured it in the blue and green hues and cut it out, went around the edges with a black Copic multiliner and glued it over the red and orange bird.  Here is a close-up:

You can't even really tell unless you look super-hard can you?!  I went over all the images with a black Copic multiliner for any lines that needed darkening up and also the eyes which does make a big difference to how nice the final image looks.

I went over the scarf using a Wink of Stella clear glitter brush but you can't tell in the photo; it does add a soft sparkle that I can get away with on a guy's card (well, for my husband at least!).  I also added some blue chalk around the image and Cotton White Fun Flock mixed with fine Crystalina glitter on the bottom for snow.

The snowflakes were punched from aqua shimmer cardstock and a Martha Stewart Snow Flurry edge punch ie: they are the leftover punchies.  I added some tiny Couture Creations silver rhinestones to the centres.

For the top panel:  I punched some scrap white cardstock using my Martha Stewart Icicles edge punch then ran the panel through my Big Shot using the same snowflake border I used on the bottom.  I added a small strip of aqua glitter cardstock using Ranger Wonder Tape then attached the panel to my card using Stampin' Up Fuse Fast adhesive.   Lastly, I tied on some aqua organza ribbon from my stash and added some Fray Stop to the cut ends to stop them from fraying.  I didn't add a sentiment 'cos I couldn't figure out where to put one and just put one on the inside!

Thanks for visiting my blog today.  I'll be back soon with another one of my Christmas cards.

Jocelyn
 

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Penny Black Christmas Friends clear set 30-084

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black

Designer Paper and Dies:  None

Accessories:  Big Shot, Cuttlebug Winter Borders set 37-1928, Prismacolor + Derwent Coloursoft pencils, paper stumps, Art Spectrum Odourless Mineral Spirits, Copic black fine multiliner, Wink of Stella clear glitter brush, Stampendous Cotton White Fun Flock mixed with fine Crystalina glitter (for snow), Kaisercraft blue chalk, Couture Creations tiny silver rhinestones, Ranger 1/4" Wonder tape, Tombow Mono Aqua adhesive, Stampin' Up Fuse Fast adhesive, Aqua organza ribbon (stash), Fray Stop, Martha Stewart Mini Score Board, Cardstock: KW Doggett Knight white smooth, aqua shimmer, aqua glitter

Punches:  Martha Stewart Icicles + Snow Flurry edge, EK Success Scalloped Scallops border