It was so nice to have an actual day off yesterday, too bad it was to say goodbye to Heather’s Dad. The church service and the service at the cemetery were very sweet and thoughtful. After, all of us went to a restaurant called Paddy’s Loft. Heather’s Brother Scott spoke of their Dad and it was great to hear his memories. We all had good time and remembered him for the wonderful person that he was. In the end it was not sad but rather a lovely day dedicated to his memory. I was unusually tired when I got home and after I had dinner and FaceTimed with Andrea for a bit I took a two hour nap! Not like me at all! It did feel good but that resulted in me staying up much later than I wanted to! Today I’m flying solo at the Stamp, Ink, Paper Store, Renee has the day off. I’m going to make it a very productive day!
It’s Tuesday and that means that we have a new Stamp, Ink, Paper challenge for you…
I went diagonally from top left to bottom right! This card was sort of an evolution, more on that in a bit! The card base is Neenah Solar White 110lb Card Stock with the front covered in a piece of Dark Molasses. My piece of patterned paper is from the Authentique Fresh Collection 12×12 and the greeting from the Hero Arts Grateful Leaves Stamp & Die Combo is heat embossed in Hero Arts Copper Embossing Powder. I die cut the Hero Arts Branch Wreath Fancy Die from some Gold Mirror Card and adhered it to the card with Multi-Purpose Spray Adhesive. The leaves are also from the Hero Arts Grateful Leaves Stamp & Die Combo and are stamped in Hero Arts Vintage Metallic Ombre Ink. I heat set the ink, because I have no patience to let it dry (LOL) and then heat embossed the veins in more Hero Arts Copper Embossing Powder. They are adhered to the card with 3D Foam Squares. A piece of May Arts Natural Twine is tied in a multiple bow and adhered to the leaves with a Glue Dot and the card is finished. Or so I thought, the more I looked at it the more I felt it needed something more. So I used the Hero Arts Cardinal Stamp & Die Combo and some Wet Cement, Forever Green, Red Raspberry and Black Ink to make a female Cardinal. I Googled to see what they looked like because I didn’t want a red Cardinal and I think I got pretty close. Her is a picture for reference…
I cut her out with the Coordinating Frame Cut and adhered her to the card with more 3D Foam Squares. Some Black Gelly Roll Pen and Signo White Gel Pen is added to the eye for a little extra detail and a few Pretty Pink Posh Raspberry, Rose Gold and Gold Sequins for some sparkle and the card is finished! I think that the female Cardinal is just as pretty as the male in her own way and the card definitely feels more finished with her added! I hope that you like my Design Team card for this week’s Stamp, Ink, Paper Challenge! Head on over to the BLOG and see the rest of the Team’s cards and enter yours in the gallery! Thank you very much for sharing in a little of my Tuesday! Have a terrific day! 🙂
Products used:
Stamp Sets: Grateful Leaves and Cardinal Stamp & Die Combo (Hero Arts)
Ink: Wet Cement, Forever Green, Red Raspberry and Black Dye Ink and Vintage Metallic Rust Ombre Pigment (Hero Arts)
Specialty Ink: Versa-Mark
Embossing Powder: Copper (Hero Arts)
Card Stock: Solar White 110lb and 80lb (Neenah) and Dar Molasses (My Colors)
Specialty Paper: Gold Mirror Card (The Paper Cut)
Patterned Paper: Fresh Collection 12×12 (Authentique)
Dies: Grateful Leaves and Cardinal Stamp & Die Combo and Branch Wreath Fancy Die (Hero Arts)
Embellishments: Raspberry, Rose Gold and Gold Sequins (Pretty Pink Posh), Black Gelly Roll Pen (Sakura), White Signo Pen (Uni-Ball) and Natural Hemp Twine (May Arts)
Adhesives: E-Z Runner (Home & Hobby), Glue Dots, 3D Foam Squares (Scrapbook Adhesives), Multi-Purpose Spray (Elmer’s) and Multi-Matte Medium (Ranger)
Tools: Artisan X-plorer (Spellbinders), Heat Tool (Hero Arts) and Crystal Katana
You do great work I look for your work every day that I can
Thank you Mary! I appreciate that!! 🙂
Hi Justin,
Beautiful card! I love the subtle colors and the gold wreath.
Did you know they say when you see a cardinal, it is a loved one who has passed away, coming to visit.
Hello Gerri!
Thanks so much! Yes, I did know that! Is it true of the female Cardinal too?
I don’t know if it’s true for the female as well. I just assumed it was. Although, not sure people recognize the female cardinal.
I don’t think that people recognize the female, I had too look her up to see what she looked like! 🙂
A Celebration of Life for Heather’s dad, a nice way to be remembered, and memories shared. A beautiful card, and bird! you captured her nicely, I need that set I think….. thanks again for enabling 😉 If the Canadian dollar was a little higher and shipping less expensive from the US I would be online shopping from your store, many, many times per week!
Yes, much better to remember the good times. Thank you! I think next time I will try a little less green. I love that Cardinal and it makes a good Bluejay too! I wish that everything wasn’t so expensive! Would love to have you shop from me! 🙂
I’m glad Heather made it through the day. Both of my parents had wakes and funerals, full of friends and family sharing stories–some I had never even heard. It can bring a lot of comfort at such a difficult time. Now on to the card. What can I say? I love this card! As I told you on Instagram, it may be a new all-time favorite! The wreath in gold is spectacular! And the addition of the leaves is perfect! Don’t want to put too much pressure on you, but how are you ever going to top this?!
Me too Linda. He Dad didn’t have a wake and it was nice to hear stories of him with his children. Thank you!! I love when I get to make an new all time favorite of yours! I like the challenge! Hope you have a lovely day! 🙂
Love this… great take on the female cardinal. LOL, I still have a hard time understanding how the male birds have the beautiful vibrant colors!
Memory services are the best, It bring such comfort
Thank you Linda! The males have to up the wow factor as stave off the competition! LOL!
Yes, I agree, much better than being sad. 🙂
Just re-visiting this post, Justin. Gorgeous photo of a female cardinal and you mirrored it perfectly. Love the gold wreath and smattering of sequins.
Thank you Sandy! The female Cardinal needs to time in the spotlight! And you know sequins make everything better! 🙂