Cardinal Christmas - Card Patterns#83

I just love Sketch Challenges as a jumping point, and when I saw the Card Patterns Sketch for today, I couldn't wait to create!  I love this sketch will be incorporating it again in my card making.  With the holiday season quickly approaching, and a need to get going on my Christmas cards, I reached for some beautiful holiday images from Heartfelt Creations.

click to enlarge

The Olive panel is embossed with the Cuttlebug Snowflake folder, brushed with Pumice Stone Distress Ink and layered on the Black panel, then Red base card. I just love the new Jovial Basic Grey papers and incorporated them into this card, not only the panel strip, but also in the Circle under the Cardinal.  After cutting the circle from the pattern paper, I added the Pine Branch from Heartfelt Creations Holly Berry Filler Set, using markers to add color to the image, then stamping.  I used a SAMJ to find proper placement of the Pine Cone/Pine Leaves, again coloring the stamp with markers.  The edges are sponged lightly with Pumice Stone, and a bit of White Gel pen added for highlights. 

The Cardinal is from the Heartfelt Creations Cardinal Family set, stamped in Black on Red card stock, then cut with the Cardinal Family Dies. I just LOVE these die cuts, it makes cutting your images a breeze. I did use an Xacto knife to cut the branch from under the feet, as I wanted to put it on the stamped branch.  I added a bit of Spica Pen in Yellow to the nose, and colored the feet in brown, then placed it over the branch using dimensionals.

The beautiful loop edging is from the Decorative Butterfly Border Die, isn't this pretty!  The other side that you can't see is a scallop - such a versatile die!  I added some Recollection Gems around the circle, and accented the Jovial paper with a few, added the lovely Red Satin Ribbon tied with the Bow Easy, and finished off with a light misting of Pearl Glimmer Mist.

My card also fits the Wing It Challenge at Our Daily Bread Designs.
Details:
Stamps - Heartfelt Creations Holly Berry Filler; Cardinal Family
Card Stock - Olive, Red, Black
Ink - Black Archival, Pumice Stone Distress Ink, Markers, Caramel
Other - Big Shot, Cuttlebug Snowflake Folder, Ink Blending Tool, Gems, H20 Brush, White Gel Pen, Dimensionals, Red Satin Ribbon, Glue Dots, Bow Easy, Heartfelt Creations Decorative Butterfly/Border Die and Cardinal Family Die, Spellbinders Circle Die, Basic Grey Jovial, Glimmer Mist, SAMJ