Merry Christmas Cardinal

The theme this week for the Merry Monday Christmas Challenge Blog is "Retro/Vintage." I just got the "Vintage Christmas Post" stamp set & dies, and figured they'd be perfect for this challenge! I also used one of the banners from the Avery Elle "Build a Banner" stamp set, as well as its coordinating die. I got the inspiration for the card design from Dawn Olchefske's tutorial for the Falliday Fest event at Splitcoaststampers.com.

I stamped my cardinal in Charcoal ink onto a piece of Strathmore Mixed Media Paper. I also stamped the greenery in Forever Green, the banner in Charcoal, the pine cones in Cup o' Joe, & the greeting in Red Royal (all Hero Arts shadow inks). I colored the cardinal with my Inktense pencils, using a damp paintbrush to apply the color. I discovered, looking at a photo of a cardinal for reference, that the black area around his face wasn't large enough as drawn on the stamp, so I extended it with a black Inktense pencil. After I finished coloring, I let that dry, and then die cut all my images with their coordinating dies.

I created my card base, following Dawn's instructions, from burgundy cardstock. I cut my patterned paper from one of the "Christmas Carol" 6x6" papers by Graphic45. The paper is double-sided, so I just flipped it over for the other triangle panels. After I adhered my paper panels, I went ahead & glued on my elements, with the banner overlapping the opening in the card. I made sure not to apply glue to the point that I would adhere my card shut, however!

Inside of card

For the inside, I cut a panel from more Mixed Media Paper, and stamped a greeting from Hero Arts' "Joy to the World" set in Red Royal ink. I adhered that inside the card, and this was done!

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

a2z Scrapbooking's October Challenge: "Layer It"
Through the Craft Room Door: "Anything Goes"