Peace Love Joy

Merry Monday's Challenge #169 is to use light green, dark green, & red on a Christmas card. I decided to combine this challenge with Hero Arts' "Makeover" challenge. The idea there is to take an older project, and make a new one using that as inspiration.

Inspiration card

I had created my original (inspiration) card for Operation Write Home this past spring. I decided to keep the general design, but change pretty much everything else.

New card

I began my card by die cutting the tag from Strathmore Bristol paper, using the Mama Elephant "Tags a Lot" set. I stamped 3 of the crystals from Hero Arts' "Christmas Crystals" in Versamark ink, then heat embossed them with Ranger Super Fine Detail White embossing powder. I masked the crystals and inked the tag with Antique Linen Distress ink. I then removed the masks & colored the crystals with my Zig Clean Color markers. I basically traced around the inside of each facet with the marker, then used my detail water brush to pull the color out. Once that was dry, I stamped the words, also from "Christmas Crystals," in Versafine Onyx Black ink.

I chose one of the patterned papers from the "Rejoice" 6x6" pad by Creative Imaginations/Iron Orchid Designs. I cut it down to a 1.5x5.5" strip, and inked the edges with Aged Mahogany Distress ink. I decided at that point that the tag didn't "pop" against the patterned paper. So I re-masked the images, and inked around the edges of the tag with Aged Mahogany as well. I drew the "strings" for the crystals with a fine-tip black marker, and glued a hole reinforcer to the tag. Once the glue had dried, I punched a hole, and threaded some red and green baker's twine through that.

For the background, I first stamped the "Looped Flower" background by Hero Arts on a piece of white cardstock, and white heat embossed that. I created an ombre effect with Abandoned Coral, Festive Berries, Fired Brick, and Aged Mahogany Distress inks. Finally, it was time to start assembling the card.

I began by adhering my patterned paper strip to the background. Then I cut 3 strips from green cardstock, I determined their placement, and glued them in place. I added foam tape to the back of the tag, and adhered it to the background. To finish, I mounted the completed card front to a white A2 card base. I did end up adding some Clear Wink of Stella to the crystals, followed by a coat of Glossy Accents. I wish that showed up in the photo! And that finished this card.

I'm also entering my card in the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp's Wednesday "Anything Goes"
Live Love Cards August Challenge: "Holiday"