Happy Day

Our Daily Bread Designs' challenge this month has been a sketch challenge. The posted this sketch for participants to use as the basis for their card designs:

I rotated the sketch 90 degrees counterclockwise. I also decided to forego the bow, since this card is for my uncle's birthday.

I stamped the "Cattails" image from Our Daily Bread Designs with Hero Arts Cup o' Joe ink onto a piece of textured off-white paper. I then die cut & embossed it with the largest Spellbinders "Classic Ovals SM" die. While the paper was still in the die, I inked the inside portion with Antique Linen Distress ink. I inked around the edges next with Brushed Corduroy Distress ink, then finally the very perimeter with Gathered Twigs. The die masked the outer portion of the oval, so I got an instant "mat" by inking the inner portion.

I temporarily adhered the oval to a piece of brown paper with a slight grid pattern, then used that as reference to position my greeting stamp (source unknown). I stamped the greeting in Versamark, then heat embossed it with Ranger Gold embossing powder. After permanently adhering the focal image, I trimmed the panel down, and inked around the edges with Gathered Twigs. Then I adhered it to a piece of "Cream Sheet Music" patterned paper, by The Paper Studio. My uncle is a singer, so when I found that paper in my scrap stash, I knew I had to incorporate it!

I lifted the top & bottom portions of the focal image and tucked some ribbon underneath each end. I wrapped the ribbon pieces around the patterned paper, and adhered them to the back side. I did squirt a little liquid glue under the ribbon pieces on the front, just to help anchor them even more.

For the outer mat, I cut a piece of white cardstock to 4.25x5.5", then inked around the perimeter with Gathered Twigs. I let that dry for a couple of hours, then used my ATG adhesive to mount the patterned paper to the mat. I adhered that to a white A2 card base. Finally, I used some Gold Pearl Liquid Pearls to add some dots to the top of the brown panel. I just feel that helps balance the gold greeting on the bottom.

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

Live Love Cards February challenge: "Masculine Cards"

Through the Craft Room Door: "Anything Goes"

Simon Says Stamp's Wednesday Challenge: "Anything Goes"