A Joyful Card

I recently got Newton's Holiday Mischief Stamp and Dies set (you will see more of that set in a bit - I love those kitties!) from Newton's Nook, and I wanted to try something new.  I try to "stretch" my stamps, find other ways to use them other than their intended use and as soon as I saw the adorable little holly stamp and die I had an idea - now as some you know having an idea and executing it are two very different things - but, I think I did ok with this one! 

What I Used to make my Card:
White Card Base
KaiserCraft Yuletide Decorative Paper, #PK484
Newton's Nook Newton's Holiday Mischief Stamps
Newton's Nook Newton's Holiday Mischief Dies
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
Tim Holtz Distress Watercolor Paper
Blender Pen
Distress Markers in Festive Berries and Pine Needles
Red Glitter Gel Pen
Red Glitter Cardstock
Tim Holtz/Sizzix Alterations Holiday Words:Script, #660058
Tim Holtz/Sizzix Movers & Shakers Magnetic Die Mini Wreath & Bow, #658267
Hand Punch - 2 1/2" Circle

Close Up 

First, I stamped (on watercolor paper) and die cut a bunch of the holly leaves and berries and then I colored them in with Distress Markers, first washing the Pine Needles color over the leaves, by scribbling the color onto my craft mat and then picking it up with a blender pen.  Once they dried, I  sort of outlined them, in a scribble kind of way - I hope this close up makes it easier to see what I'm talking about. The berries were just colored in direct to paper with Festive Berries, then colored over with a red glitter gel pen to give them a bit of sparkle. I tried to maneuver the holly leaves into a circle, but,

static cling had other things in mind and they kept moving.  So I punched out a circle from some scrap paper using one of those old Marvy punches (remember when that was all we had to make shapes with!?!? - how did we ever make anything? 😉) and glued each section onto the circle - Ta Dah! The little holly sprigs couldn't move all around once they were glued! There was a teeny gap that was too small for another sprig so I cut the bow from the Mini Wreath out of red glitter cardstock and covered the gap.  

Next I cut "joy" out of red glitter card as well (here is a tip - when you cut out a word that has an "i" in it, use removable tape or washi tape to keep the dot from the i with the i - they are teeny tiny and NOT fun to try to find.  At least not fun to try and find on my desk) and adhered that to the center of the wreath made from the holly leaves and berries.  I then glued the wreath onto a piece of decorative paper from the KaiserCraft set called Yuletide.  I love how this card is simple but festive and this idea is going on my card making list for next year. Thanks so much for visiting and I hope your holiday season is a happy one ~ Christi

I would respectfully like to enter my Joy card in the following challenges:
The Artistic Stamper, December - Christmas
Card Mania Challenges - December, #87, Anything Goes
Christmas Cards All Year Round - December, Anything Christmas/Holiday
Country View Challenges - December, Christmas
Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas Challenge - Christmas (month long)
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Make it Sparkle

Alphabet Challenge Blog - U is for Use Something Red
Cards in Envy - Celebrate the Season
Southern Ridge Trading Co. - December, Christmas and/or New Years
Happy Little Stampers - December, Anything Goes with Dies

Christmas Owl Ornament

This little owl goes with the Christmas card I made for my neighbor Helen. When I visited her house I commented on the adorable little owls she had hanging here and there and she told me she collects owls.  That was all I needed to hear - I was on a mission! 

The Owl Die

I didn't have any owl stamps or owl anything so I was hunting for something to enable me to somehow add to her collection.  I honestly can't recall where I was when I found this cute little owl die by Impression Obsession but I fell in love right away.  I don't have much use for the graduation accessories that come with the set, but, who knows.  I may find a use for them yet. 




What I Used to Make this Creation:
Impression Obsession Owl Die, #DIE283-0
Ribbon for Hanging
Cut 2 (or 2 sets) of each of the following:
Owl Body out of Patterned Paper (if desired)
Wings out of Brown Card (match the patterned paper)
Beak out of Yellow Card
Feet out of Orange Card
Eyes out of White and Black Card
*Also cut a few more of the Owl Body to add Thickness. I just used heavy white cardstock.

I think he is adorable! 

As you can see I made him double sided so regardless of which way he is hanging he looks the same.  I anticipated this to be harder than it was.  Once I had the bodies all glued together (in hind sight I would cut the extra bodies out of brown cardstock) and the ribbon in place, I just used glue and set the wings and feet on each side at the same time.  I wasn't as precise with the eyes and the beak but I did try to line them up a bit. Due to the pattern on the paper, the die didn't emboss the wavy lines that are shown on the body die but they did show on the extra bodies I cut out to add the thickness.

I am going to tuck this little owl in her Christmas card and I hope she likes this little guy. I certainly enjoyed making him and I foresee myself making many owl cards in the future.  Thank you for taking the time to check out my Owl Ornament - I know this is a crazy time of year and I appreciate your comments! Fondly, Christi


I would like to enter my Owl Ornament in the following Challenges:
Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge - #309, Anything Goes
Pixie's Crafty Workshop - Weeks 260 & 261 - Anything Goes w/ snippets
Love to Create Challenge - M - #25, Anything Mixed Media Goes