Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Caardvarks Challenge & Hero Arts sneak peeks!



This card is for the new Caardvarks Challenge: Winter!

It's a little dark maybe, but hopefully not too somber. I love that snowman stamp set! There's only a written tutorial today, but I'll have a couple of photo tutorials coming up this week of some of other Caardvarks projects. I am excited that we get to share a sneak peek with you though! :O)





This Caardvarks challenge was sponsored by Hero Arts (and they generously let us play with brand spanking new stamps!) They'll be available this month in their upcoming Holidays 2009 catalogue:




Hero Arts stamps used here:

1) "Create Your Own Snowman"



2)
"Antique Brocade"



3) "Holiday Sayings"



To make the card I did this stuff...

For the background card:

1) Folded a 5 1/2 inch square White card & Created a fat scallop trimmed in silver marker for the bottom
2) Stamped the snowy sky: repeatedly stamping Hero Arts' "Antique Brocade background") on black cardstock, in white pigment ink (and embossed in both clear embossing powder. Cut it to measure 5 2/8 inches.
3) Made layers of hill shapes with patterned papers & embossing on two different Hero Arts stamps: the "Antique Brocade background cling stamp" & phrases from their "Holiday Sentiments"
4) Adhered the hills to the black cardstock mat
5) Pierced & stitched the hills with gray thread
6) Coloured the hills (outside the stitches in Copic markers to make a rainbow-coloured border.)
7) Added white & rainbow coloured brads to make snow.



Making some embossed rainbow coloured velvet ribbon:


This was SO fun to make: the ribbon is crushed black velvet. It's stamped (using the Hero Arts "Antique Brocade" stamp) in embossing ink & covered in white embossing powder.

I tinted the white embossing with the broad tip (or chissel end) of Copic markers to make it rainbow coloured. It's a super speedy cheat for custom ribbon. (I used the broad tip of the Copics to keep the brush ends free of any embossing residue.) ;O)



To make the sentiment:

1) Coloured the word "Chill" (also from Hero Arts' "Make Your Own
2) Snowman" set) in markers & then stamped onto Vellum cardstock & embossed the marker.
3) Embossed the Hero Arts "Antique Brocade" pattern in white on Kraft cardstock to layer underneath.
4) Cut them both into a curvy label shape & sewed it together, adding beads around the outside
5) Edged it with a black Copic marker around the stitched beads



To make the snowman:

1) Embossed the circles (from Hero Arts' "Make Your Own Snowman" set) & face in black on patterned paper & cut them out.
2) Added heat & stick powder & Iridescent Ice glitter (from SU) over the patterned paper
3) Beaded the mouth & eyes by sewing on seed beads.
4) Added a brad for the nose.
5) Adhered the snowman's body to a strip of cardstock (hidden by the circles)
6) Added the scarf (made by embossing ribbon & tinting it with Copic markers (as above) then cutting it & melting the cut parts to prevent fraying.
7) Made a hat & coloured & cut it...
8) Stitched a button on to hold the scarf






Thank you SO much for taking time out of your busy day;
may it be a gorgeous one!



P.S. Please check out the ol' blog later, if you'd like to see another post today: a Cuttlebug Challenge! (and a new box template too) :O)

P.P.S. Sorry for any weird typing errors in here. I have a migraine & they make me dumb, so you may find some extra typos.

8 comments:

Beth Norman said...

Fabulous work! I particularly like the layered "snow" and that eye popping ribbon! Your rock!

Tracey said...

Hi Mel, I've just found your blog & wanted to say how much I'm enjoying looking around & have saved you to my favourites. Love this snowman card, it is stunning :-)

Have a good week.

Hugs
Tracey
x

Erin said...

Mel, seriously! These calliber of projects are supposed to be once in a while for a stamper! You are making everyone else look bad making this amazing stuff day after day!

LOVE this, love all your stuff. Couldn't dream of keeping up with you.

Unknown said...

Wow Mel, this is stunning! Of course I always love everything you do. Your work is so whimsical and full of amazing detail!!

(-: Heidi

Kim Etherington said...

Love the stitched Chill and the text/colouring on the Snowman and the layered panels of different colours like snow hills. I love different for xmas!!!

Unknown said...

Missy, you're too much! Love all the work you did for this challenge!

SmilynStef said...

Love the super rainbow-ribbon tip ... fabulous card.

Elena said...

How cute! I love this snowman! Really love the layered snow and your stitching!