A Christmas Card to Paws For

I know you just HAD to look at this post after reading the title - as most of you know, I am a die hard cat lover - well, I'm actually a die hard animal lover and I am in love with ALL that is crazy by Tim Holtz.  Anyhow, you might recall the birthday card I made for my fantastic neighbor, Helen, and her adorable little dog named Lulu.  Well, it's that time of year and I wanted to make another really special card for Helen as I truly treasure her and feel SO lucky she is my neighbor. I also made her a cute little owl ornament since Helen collects owls - how I made that will be in my next post. 

How I Made my Card:

White Card Base

Red Cardstock
Derwent Inktense Watercolor Pencils
Dove Blender Pen

Tim Holtz/Sizzix Texture Fades Beaded Garland & Snowflakes Embossing Folder Set, #660041 (discontinued) I used the Snowflakes Embossing Folder
Tim Holtz/Sizzix Alterations Holiday Words: Script #660058

Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous Mini Cats and Dogs Stamp Set, #CMS272

Tim Holtz/Sizzix Mini Cats and Dogs Dies Set, #661594
Tim Holtz/Sizzix Movers & Shakers Magnetic Die Mini Wreath & Bow, #658267
Nuvo Crystal Drops in Ebony Black, 650N
Watercolor Cardstock
Ranger Archival Ink Pad in Jet Black
Darice Gems (discontinued)
Red Glitter Cardstock
Gold Glitter Cardstock

The first step I took making this card was the doggies.  I stamped them on watercolor cardstock (I have to say, I've been using the Distress watercolor paper and it has made a HUGE difference in my water coloring.  I can let it dry and reintroduce more water color later and it doesn't pill up as fast as other watercolor papers do.  I have had excellent results using both a water brush and a blender pen) and colored them in using the Derwent Inktense Pencils.  Once I was done fiddling with the color, I colored their noses black with the Nuvo Crystal Drops and set them aside to dry.

Another Look

While the doggies were drying, I cut the sentiment out of gold glitter cardstock (how did I ever live without this stuff?) and embossed the red paper using the Snowflake embossing folder.  I had already cut the cute bow out when I cut one out for another card and I had tested it on the big dog - I think it looks adorable but by the look on the dog's face you can tell he isn't so happy.  I mounted the red embossed card onto the base and adhered the gold Merry Christmas onto the top of that.  Finally, I attached all the dogs and embellished them; Lulu has her signature little gem heart.  This time I added some of the gem bones that were in the set (sorry, I don't know the name of the set. I do know it was made by Darice and I did search the Darice website but nothing came up). Anyway, that is Helen's Christmas card.  I hope she likes it as much as she liked her birthday card.  Thanks SO much for taking time out to read my post! Christi 

I would like to enter my Christmas to Paws for Card in the following challenges:
Passion for Promarkers #375 - Mega Christmas Challenge, Use Your Dies and/or Punches (ends 1/3/17) 
Cards & More #174 - Christmas
Glitter 'n Sparkle  #219 - Xmas with Glitter
Christmas Card Challenge - #2,  Holiday or Christmas Card
Fashionable Stamping Challenges #118 - Anything Goes