Hero Arts - Layered Cardinal

Good Afternoon. I expect most of you are scurrying around with last minute shopping, wrapping, baking, etc. We've been busy, but I surely don't know what it is that we've accomplished! Didn't do any decorating, aside from hanging wreath on front & back door. Nada on the baking as well. Weren't just sure until last minute if we'd be able to go to Florida so didn't do a lot of shopping, thinking we'd be sending $$$$ instead of gifts. Then found out we will be able to make the trip, so a bit of scurrying then, and you know, it's really difficult to think of gifts for adult kids. They buy things that they want, have enough dust collectors, can't buy them clothes, and gift cards seem like a cop-out (but some got purchased!) Found out you can do egift cards at Amazon too, so I hope my first try at that will work out with no hitches!

Before any more blah-blah, let me give a very warm welcome to a new follower, who joined about 2 wks ago, but I just didn't have a chance to introduce my new friend, Camille S. of Short on Ideas. Thanks for becoming a follower here, and one of these days, maybe I'll get to the 350 mark, and have a bit of New Year Blog Candy. I hope I haven't missed giving a welcome to any new followers, but if I have neglected to welcome you, provide a link to your blog so that my friends can visit you, please do let me know! Hope you have time to visit Camille, and enjoy her work.

OK, before today's card, I want to share a Halloween tag that was sent to DH, by my sweet (and so-talented) friend, Anne R. (Redanne).  Anne loves Halloween, and so does DH, and she has sent him some awesome Halloween cards. He is just so thrilled that someone - so far away, that he's never met, is kind enough to do such.

 

So why am I sharing this just now? Anne had given me the heads up that she had sent Mr. a Halloween treat, but it didn't come, it didn't come, and we just thought it was lost in the mail. In collecting a packet of Christmas cards from the mail box quite recently, lo & behold, I saw an envelope from Miss Anne. We'd already gotten a lovely Christmas card, so I happened to glance at the franking date. It was Oct 15! How excited I was to hand this one over to the Mr, and say "Here's your Halloween card!" Both of us said, bet this envelope could tell some tales of where it's been for over 2 months!!!

 

Now for the Hero Arts Cardinal: (this will be DH's card this year).

 

 

 

H.A. Layered Cardinal - stamp & die set. Used some of the Altenew colored cube sets along with some Distress Inks to do the color layers. Even using the Misti, I had some frustration with this stamp set. The bird worked out ok, but tried to place his feet on the branch, add the greenery, and it was a mess. Finally just used the die set, cut all parts out, and assembled as shown here. Was tempted to do some hand cutting around the elements, to eliminate the 'white' from the die cut, but time was running out.

 

The background embossing was done with a rectangle die set that has a leaf pattern* (thought it was PTI, but can't locate it to provide a link.) Had seen Jennifer McGuire use dies to emboss, using this layered cardinal as the focal image.  Tried using the circle infinity dies as she does in the video, but even with 140# watercolor c/s, the c/s was being cut more so than embossed. Finally used the sizzix emboss mat (the black one) rather than the thicker tan one that I normally use, and got a decent emboss. However, this die arrived in the mail, decided to try it on the technique, liked it much better. I can provide the die company if anyone is interested .. was pretty sure it was Paper Trey Ink.*

*EDIT: PTI Leaf & Sprigs Frame Die 

 

- Tim Holtz Sizzix 661597 Thinlets Holiday Greens for the holly and branches. (cut from white snippet c/s and colored with copics.). After placing the holly in the corners, thought the holly needed some branches, to make the greenery more lush. Holly berries are Nuvo Crystal glitter.

 

- SU sentiment, stamped with DI festive berry, and used SU punch.

 

That's it folks. Will have a scheduled post tomorrow. Trying to finish a couple of Crazy Birds cards to take along. Just added a lot of lovely Christmas cards to the Cards by Friends section, so if you've time, enjoy these right along with us.

 

Ya'll take care, try not to get too stressed with the coming holiday, and thanks for joining me. Prayers & good thoughts going out to my friends who are in need of that just now. Big Hugs, and hope you are not being Naughty!!!