Merry Christmas Bells

Catch the Bug Challenge Blog is having their "Christmas in July" challenge series this week. Each day has a different challenge theme. It actually started yesterday, with the theme being "Jingle All the Way." This is my first card for their challenges, based on that theme.

I began by choosing Operation Write Home's Sketch #251. I did rotate it 90 degrees counterclockwise, but that was the only alteration. I cut a piece of 140 lb. watercolor paper to the size of the focal panel in the sketch, and printed my bells image, by Bugaboo Stamps, on that. (I'd already sized it in Photoshop.) I colored the image with Inktense pencils, using a damp paintbrush to blend the colors. Then I set that aside to dry.

I chose a greeting from Doodle Pantry's "Holiday Greetings" digital set. I sized it in Photoshop, and printed it directly on my red card front panel, which I'd cut to 4.25x5.5". I cut 3 strips of patterned papers from my scrap stash, staying with the red/green color scheme. Then I adhered them in place on the card front.

After rounding the corners of my image panel with my 1/8" Corner Chomper, I matted it with some gold cardstock. I rounded the corners of that as well, and adhered it to my card front. To finish up, I mounted the completed card front to a white A2 card base, then added a coat of Glossy Accents to the bells, berries, and leaves. I will be sending this card in my final box to Operation Write Home.