Today’s project was originally created by me back at the beginning of October as part of my personal World Card Making Day challenge to design and create 24 cards in 24 hours. Unfortunately since making this card the Joyous Noel Designer Series Paper I used for the background has been discontinued. Now normally I’d not show you a project using retired products, but today I’m going to make an exception as the rest of the products including the comfort & joy sentiment are still available. I will suggest an alternative DSP you could use though.
TWIN BACKGROUNDS
I decided to use a combination of stamped and Designer Series Paper (DSP) for this card. But first I needed a card base. So using my Stampin’ Trimmer I cut and scored a piece of Thick Very Vanilla Card. Then I folded it along the scored line and sharpened the crease with a Bone Folder.
Next I cut a piece from the (now retired) Joyous Noel Specialty Designer Series Paper and fixed it to the front of the card base with Multipurpose Liquid Glue (Tombow).
ALTERNATE SUGGESTION – If you don’t have the Joyous Noel Specialty DSP you could substitute any coloured paper with a subtle pattern. You might want to look at the Dashing Along 12” x 12” DSP that is now available (link in the product list below).
For my second background I used Early Espresso ink to stamp the Sheet Music Stamp onto some Very Vanilla Card. Then I fixed that to the front of the card base with liquid glue.
The background was then completed with a length of Gold 3/8” Metallic-Edge Ribbon attached down the centre using Tear & Tape Adhesive.
COMFORT & JOY
For the comfort & joy sentiment I took a piece of Thick Very Vanilla Card and wiped it with an Embossing Buddy. This removes any oils and static from the card and helps stop embossing powder from sticking where it shouldn’t. Next I used VersaMark ink to stamp the sentiment from the Timeless Tidings Stamp Set. Then I sprinkled the VersaMark with Gold Stampin’ Emboss Powder, tapped off the excess and removed a few stray specks. Finally I melted the rest of the embossing powder with my heat tool set on 2 (high).
With the sentiment done I then took it over to my Big Shot and Magnetic Platform. I chose the #3 circle die from the Stitched Shapes Framelits (counting from the smallest up) and cut it out. Then I used Stampin’ Dimensionals to attach the sentiment to the card front.
HOLLY ACCENTS
To add some extra colour I decided to add some holly accents to the card and for that turned to the Peaceful Poinsettia Stamp Set. I stamped the small holly image onto a scrap of Very Vanilla Card using Memento Tuxedo Black ink. I also stamped the image in the top left and bottom right corners on a layer of Very Vanilla Card, and on the front of a Very Vanilla Medium Envelope.
Then using Stampin’ Blends alcohol markers I coloured in the images. On the leaves I started with light Daffodil Delight, then added dark and light Shaded Spruce. For the berries I started with light Calypso Coral followed by dark and light Cherry Cobbler.
Using Multipurpose Liquid Glue (Tombow) I fixed the completed Very Vanilla layer inside the card base.
Then using my Big Shot and Magnetic Platform with the coordinating die from the Detailed Poinsettia Framelits, I cut out the single holly image. I used liquid glue to attach the holly to the sentiment and then finished off the project with a line of 3 Clear Rhinestone Basic Jewels in the top right corner.
All in all I’m really happy with how this card turned out. It’s such a shame though that the Joyous Noel Specialty DSP was so popular it sold out well before the end of the catalogue period. It doesn’t happen very often but it’s always a possibility.
OTHER BACKGROUND IDEAS
I seem to be on a bit of a ‘backgrounds’ crusade at the moment, totally unplanned through it might be. If you’re interested in some other options for creating backgrounds for your cards you might like these previous posts:
Blizzard Thinlits Background Die
BUNDLE BONUS – The Peaceful Poinsettia Stamp Set and Detailed Poinsettia Framelits Dies are available separately, but you’ll save 10% if you buy them using a single bundle item number. For this reason you’ll find links to both options in the product list below.
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