Magical Deer and Tweet Cardinal

Hello and welcome!

Oh, happy day, I have two more cards for the Christmas box!  We'll start off with Spellbinders Magical Deer.  I used it once last year and didn't even realize until this year that I put its antlers on upside down.  How could I do that?  What a goofball!  Hopefully I've redeemed myself this year.

All supplies are listed below, but I will mention the baubles hanging from his antlers.  They are punched silver gloss cardstock coated with Diamond Glaze and hung on a string borrowed from the much older Memory Box Precious Hearts.  I was prompted first by the Christmas Kickstart Challenge in which Jo is asking for baubles this month.  I had my heart set on the deer so I was dragging my feet until I thought if Spellbinders could picture (on the package) the deer with a long tag hanging from his antlers, then surely I could hang some baubles.  I chose silver baubles as a nod to the mood board created by my friends at the Peace On Earth Challenge.  Sending my thanks to both challenges with links and graphics at the end.

Next is another Spellbinders die -- Tweet Cardinal.  I kept this card simple with a ready made frame from my card parts drawer.  Die cut holly accents a corner, and the sentiment banner gives him something to perch on.

I added Diamond Glaze to the holly berries, and you can see the holly leaves are also glossy.  The gloss was achieved by applying clear packing tape to green cardstock before cutting.  I learned the simple and genius packing tape trick from Natalie Bowers at NB Cards who I found during my late night YouTube excursions.

I have to give Natalie a shout out.  She's not selling anything, usually she can't even name the dies she uses as she oftentimes picks them up at a "charity shop".  I love that.  She'll take you step-by-simple step through creating the most beautiful backgrounds, and almost all her cards are ultra-CAS.  She created a Smoosher for smooshing watercolor backgrounds.  Don't knock it till you try it.  It makes smooshing so easy and neat.  She also makes her own glossy dots, which I've been doing for years, but her influence has prompted me to nearly give up purchased dots altogether.  Nearly.  I still have some in my stash, but I no longer buy them.  Most of her videos are only a few minutes long and it's amazing the ideas and inspiration she shares in that amount of time.

So here are the aforementioned challenges, plus NBUS for the Cardinal:

Christmas Kickstart #94 -- Bring the Baubles
Peace On Earth #80  -- See optional mood board
NBUS #70 -- Never before used schtuff.  My NBUS is the Spellbinders Tweet Cardinal.

  

If you're still with me after all that, then I appreciate your patience.  Have a happy day!

Deer:

Stamps:  None except inside sentiment  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 80lb (base) & 110 lb(dies, red, dark gray, and silver gloss cardstock  Coloring:  Minimal with gray Copics  Dies:  Spellbinders Magical Deer, Impression Obsession Holiday Bottom Word Edgers, Memory Box Precious Hearts  Other:  Memory Box Frosted Pines 3D embossing folder, 1/8", 1/4", 1/2" hole/circle punches, JudiKins Diamond Glaze

Cardinal:

Stamps:  None except inside sentiment  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 110#, SU Garden Green for holly and Poppy Parade for layer under sentiment banner, scrap designer paper  Coloring:  Minimal with Copics  Dies:  Spellbinders Tweet Cardinal and Make It Merry Sentiments, Tim Holtz Sizzix Holiday Greens Mini  Other:  JudiKins Diamond Glaze for berries, clear packing tape for gloss on holly leaves, Scotch brand foam mounting tape for Cardinal