Followers

3/01/2014

A Winter Cardinal

Happy weekend & welcome! It's always such a mood lifter when Saturday rolls around. Today's card has been in the works for a bit, as I was thinking about backgrounds. I had seen Jennifer McGuire do a stencil technique*, and immediately thought 'that's it'. Hope this link will take you to the video and the inspirational technique was about 1/3 into the video.


- A Winter Cardinal stamp set - Sparkle N Sprinkle. Saw this set at Christmas, rather by accident, as it really was not ready for release just then. Miss Margaret (the owner) very kindly let me buy a set because she could see my disappointment. I waited until the March release to post a card featuring this set. 

Stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black - colored with Copic R family. I don't keep track of  markers used. I start with a light basecoat, then just lay down colors until I get a shading that I like. (I test the colors on a scrap of same type of c/s used for stamping the image). Not very organized, I admit, but that's how I work. Also study the finished image, and usually return to do some more shading, as my eye just doesn't seem to like shadows! But shadows & highlights make the flat image come to life. The branch was colored with Earthtones, and the greenery - with various greens.

- Sizzix Framelits die 658793, which has a nice stitched look. Traced the outer edge to get a scant mat. This was colored with a dark red copic; used a versamark pen over it, then sprinkled SnS Oriental Fire EP, heat embossed. It doesn't show well in the photo, but IRL it looks quite nice with the thin sparkly edge peeking out. The focal image was placed on dimensional foam dots.

- *Background: Adhered double side adhesive paper (Sookwang) to the top fold card base - top half only. Prepared the Hero Arts Tweed Pattern stencil by rubbing versamark pad over the side that would be against the sticky paper. (as Jennifer says, it helps with the removal of the stencil later). Stencil pressed down firmly. Poured generous amount of blue microfine glitter over the open areas of the stencil. Removed excess by shaking and gently brushing. Used the sticky paper backing to press firmly against the glittered surface & stencil. Once this color was adhered well, lifted the stencil; used a Pewter microfine glitter over the remaining open areas of the sticky paper stencil pattern. Removed excess, and then burnished, burnished with fingers. Once I saw how nice it looked, I wished I had done entire background rather than just the top half. Added a pearlized silver paper that was embossed with a SU snowflake EF as the bottom dp. Didn't want the 'join' to be obvious so -

die cut M.Box Pinecone Corner(98685) with white snippet, colored with copics. Cut apart to fit where it was needed to camouflage the join. Added a touch of Twinkling Clouds to create the snow, the sentiment from the set stamped in SU Real Red, punched with an SU oval. Two rhinestones for some bling...Voila ...there's my cardinal. Don't you just love  this beautiful bird? Hope you like this one!

Will be linking to the SnS March Challenge here. Thanks for joining me today, and hope that whatever you've planned will be happy. Hugs!

34 comments:

  1. This is so beautiful and I am a sucker when it comes to Christmas anything. This has a warm welcoming feeling about this card that just makes you want to really just sit and admire it. Well done Mary, I can only hope one day to be as talented in this area as you are. Thanks for sharing with us.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Lovely card Mary, love the bright cardinal - we don't get them here in UK they must be quite a sight in a flock x Susan x

    ReplyDelete
  3. Beautiful! Wow! The sparkle you achieved is wonderful. So showcased that majestic bird. I can see why you had to have that stamp!

    ReplyDelete
  4. He looks appropriately regal! Love the background, Mary. Reminds me of wintery mountains. And you've added some lovely festive embellies. See you again tomorrow, my friend!
    hugs, Asha - Sunny Summer Crafts

    ReplyDelete
  5. As you already know I am a birder, and have been card a bird. and I love red Northern Cardinals. You did a slam bang job with this one. The coloring is great. What colors did you say you used? LOL.

    Blessings

    ReplyDelete
  6. What a beautiful cardinal, Mary! You color with Copics so beautifully! Love the label you've placed him on and the background! A work of art!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Very striking card, I like the blue sparkly background you made, a perfect back drop for the bright bird image.
    Jean x

    ReplyDelete
  8. This is absolutely stunning! How could you keep this one quiet?! You've done so much with all the Sparkle N Sprinkle products Mary. Every detail carefully thought out and the coloring of the Cardinal is absolutely fantastic!

    ReplyDelete
  9. This card is stunning Momma Mary! I love that stenciled background and love the cardinal! The embossed bottom half with the snowflake folder is perfect. I love the pine cones and pine needles, so realistic looking. Just a beautiful card Momma Mary! Hugs!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Beautifully colored and a beautiful card! Love the way you used the stencil on here! FABULOUS!
    Lynn

    ReplyDelete
  11. Wowwww Mary,,,,I love the stunning red tones,,,,,,,what agorgeus coloring yours,,,,,,lovbe your colorful card,,,,,,,woww,woww,wowwww

    ReplyDelete
  12. Winter Christmas cards are my favorite. This is such a beautiful cardinal and your "snow" on the pinecones looks awesome. I can feel the cold now. I love the microfine glitter and you've made a beautiful card, Mary.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Oh BOY, Mary! I truly think this is beyond remarkable. I'm sooooo jello about your beautiful coloring - the shading is amazing! You have been featured this morning on the SNS Facebook page. Truly a work of art, worthy of framing. Thank you for sharing, and thank you for waiting until our big Reveal to showcase your pretty artwork! hugs, de

    ReplyDelete
  14. I'm back! LOL Now to put on my other hat. Thank you for joining us at Sparkle N Sprinkle this month! I hope you will submit more of your pretty cards to the challenge in the future! hugs, Donna {Creative Smiles}

    ReplyDelete
  15. This is stunning! Love everything about it! I was wondering how you were able to upload a project so quickly :-) . So glad Margaret let you purchase it early and so happy you shared it with us for the Sparkle N Sprinkle Creative Challenge. Congrats on being a SNS Featured Artist this month too!

    ReplyDelete
  16. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  17. This is gorgeous! Love the technique you used on the background.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Wow, this is so gorgeous!! What a beautiful image!! You colored it perfectly!! It just pops off the page!! This is fabulous!! Have a great weekend :)

    Lisa
    A Mermaid's Crafts

    ReplyDelete
  19. I love the coloring on your cardinal, Mary. And the background really catches the eye with spectacular texture, sparkle, depth and dimension.

    ReplyDelete
  20. What a GORGEOUS and Vibrant card Mary!!! Love your coloring so much <3

    ReplyDelete
  21. Fantastic card, fabulous image.

    Kath x

    ReplyDelete
  22. What a gorgeous card, Mary... so many wonderful elements to this beauty. Love the background and those pinecones with the pine accents.

    ReplyDelete
  23. That is one gorgeous cardinal wearing his vivid red coat of feathers! I love the background you created! It looks wonderful with all the sparkle against the pure white of the image panel! Beautifully done Mary!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Hello Mary, nice to meet you :) thank you for your lovely comment on my card and your interest in Photoshop. I am self taught, but try and pick up tips if I think I want to do something special. I'll try and get some tips going, but I am so busy at the moment. It may be a little while. Keep an eye out :) Thanks for becoming one of my followers, I'm glad you think my cards are worthy of your visits.

    Now onto this very beautiful card of yours, the colouring is fabulous and it is a very effective card. We don't have these birds in the UK, it must be wonderful to see one and so vibrant too. Love all the detail you have on it too.

    ReplyDelete
  25. OMG!! That is a beautiful card!!

    ReplyDelete
  26. A big old bird told me that this is your favorite bird! Well done sugar!!
    sandy

    ReplyDelete
  27. What a wonderful card! So glittery and wintery with lots to admire. I'm loving the stitched die cut. I've been seeing those lately. They add a little something.

    ReplyDelete
  28. You are so sweet Mary !!! I love the way you used this stamp set !!! You created a truly beautiful card , and the fact that you waited to share until the official release , you truly are amazing !!!

    Hugs,
    Mayra
    Mayrasdesigns.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  29. A beautiful card & image!

    ReplyDelete
  30. The Cardinal is such a beautiful bird, and you have given it such a pretty sparkly background Mary which is complemented perfectly with the white embossed bottom section. The pine cone die makes a lovely accompaniment and I love the sentiment. x

    ReplyDelete
  31. That is a really beautiful card Mary. I love the stamped image and you have coloured him beautifully. Thanks for the link to that technique too. I have a lot of glitter, as do I think most crafters have, that I am trying to use up and I love the idea of using it to create backgrounds. It's a really gorgeous card xx

    ReplyDelete
  32. So beautiful!! I love that stamp set too, so happy you were able to get a set! Thanks for joining in the fun at the Sparkle N Sprinkle challenge this month!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Mary, you did a fantastic job with this card. Thank you so much for joining us at Sparkle N Sprinkle Creative Challenge this month.

    ReplyDelete
  34. This is a really beautiful card! The blue in the background is a wonderful contrast to the red cardinal. I can see why this is one of your favorite cards and I'm so glad you shared your link with me!

    ReplyDelete