Happy Skating Penguin

 

Christmas Card Throwdown's September theme challenge is "Polar Bears/Penguins." I have had this wood-mounted "Skating Penguin" stamp from Stampendous for several years, & thought it would be perfect for this challenge. I paired it with Mama Elephant's "Holly's Snowflakes" & My Sentiments Exactly's "Holiday Happiness to You" stamps for my card.

I used Sketch #SC752 from Splitcoaststampers.com for my design. I cut a piece of Strathmore Smooth Bristol paper to size, and with the help of my Stamp-a-Ma-Jig, double-stamped the penguin with Versafine Onyx Black ink. I colored the beak & scarf with my Tombow markers, and used a pale grey marker to shade the skates. I also used a pale blue to add some "ice" & shading under the penguin's feet.

I cut a panel of red cardstock for the mat, & heat embossed my greeting at the bottom with Ranger White Super Fine Detail embossing powder. I also cut a strip of patterned paper from my scrap stash, and adhered it to a panel of sage green cardstock, before mounting that to my card base.

I felt the white background on my image panel was a little too white, so I used a few small stamps from "Holly's Snowflakes" & Lawn Fawn Kiddie Pool ink to add a bit of interest. Rather than cut out a mask for the penguin, I just blocked it off as needed with a sticky note. I finished by adhering my image panel to the red mat.

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

Creative Knockouts #368: "Anything Goes"

Hero Arts Stay Crafty with Hero Challenge #14: "Critters"

613 Avenue Create's September Challenge: "Anything Goes" (not playing the twist)