I recently scored some adorable Your Next Stamp stamp sets when they were having a fabulous 40% off flash sale (TIP: If there are certain stamp companies you love, sign up for their Instagram and/or blog newsletters. Oftentimes sales are quick and announced just for followers!)
I decided to combine the adorable little hamster peeking out from an ornament from the “Hammie Holiday Fun” stamp set with the Pine Branch Die and the Swirly Flourish Die from Diemond Dies to create mini close-up scenes of Christmas tree boughs with an ornament. For the tree boughs, I first added some Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Mowed Lawn and Pine Needles to give the green card stock scraps I had a bit more interest and color variation. Then I used the dies and arranged the die cuts from the upper right or upper left sides of the card front. For the faux loops from which the ornaments would hang, I used a thick embroidery needle to punch holes in the card fronts so that the baker’s twine I looped through the front of the card front would look straight and taut. I added bows to the hangers for a decorative touch.
For the Hammies in the ornaments I used the following Copic colors along with highlights added with a Uniball Signo White Gel Pen and shimmer with Clear Wink of Stella:
Ornament hangers: YR31 and YR24
Blue ornament: B01, B12, B04, B16 and N3
Brown spotted Hammie: W0, E33, and R20
Red ornament: R22, R24, R27, R29 and N3
Black spotted Hammie: W0, R20 and W5
Then because I thought the card front was looking too plain, I attempted to use dies to trim down the sides. However, because I had already added the ornaments and baker’s twine, there was too much dimension to safely run the dies through my die cutting machine. I decided to try a Martha Stewart Aspen Snowflake Punch Around the Page (retired) to trim up the sides of the card front; however, due to the various layers of the die cuts I had trouble punching through the card front and bough dies. I ended up mangling a bit of the card front, but luckily I was able to trim off the troublesome areas and make non-standard sized cards. To layer behind the card fronts, I used some patterned papers from the “Moments” My Mind’s Eye paper pad for the blue plaid and “The Doodlin’ Around” stack from DCWV for the glittered green diamond paper. Then I mounted both onto navy and green card stock card bases.
I kept the insides of the cards simple. I just lined them with white card stock and used some of the scrap patterned papers from the front of the card to either make little banners or a pocket for a gift card. The sentiment is from the Hammie Holiday Fun stamp set and is stamped with VersaFine Black Onyx Ink (my favorite ink for crisp clear sentiments).
The following is a process video sharing how I made the cards:
Discount for My Readers: If you are making a purchase at Diemond Dies (for whom I’m a Design Team Member) you can get a 10% discount and free worldwide shipping on all orders of $35 or more by using the coupon code: thankskristina.
Disclosure: Many of the supplies I’ve used for today’s project are linked. Some may be affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. I truly appreciate your support toward the costs of running this blog!
These cards are being entered into the following challenges:
Your Next Stamp Color Challenge #78 – red, blue, greens, grey
Through the Craft Room Door Anything Goes Challenge
Crafts Galore Encore Anything Goes Challenge
613 Avenue Create Anything Goes Challenge with Optional Christmas or Winter
Crafty Gals Corner Anything Goes Challenge
Not Just Cards Anything Goes Challenge
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Anything Goes Challenge
CAS-ual Fridays Winter Blues Challenge – blue ornament card
Creatalicious Anything Goes With Optional Flourishes Challenge – blue ornament card with flourish tree branch
Word Art Wednesday Anything Goes Challenge
Super cute!!! Thank you for joining us at Lil Patch, good luck!!! Amy DT
Thanks so much Amy!
These are ate so pretty, tfs, hope you have the best day
Awww thanks so much Betty! I hope you have an awesome day too!
Very cute cards! Thanks for sharing.x
You’re always so kind! Thanks so much Ann!
Thank you so much for entering our ATG challenge at Through The Craft Room Door this week. Looking forward to see you again next challenge.
Hugs Aly xx
TTCRD DT
Simply Angelic Crafts {My Blog}
Through The Craft Room Door
ttcrd.blogspot.com
Thanks so much for the sweet words Alysha!
Such sweet cards! Thank you for sharing with us at the Crafts Galore Encore December Challenge, “Anything Goes”. Good Luck and hope to see you again next month!
Carole x DT
Thanks so much for the encouraging words, Carole!
They are both gorgeous! Thanks for joining us at CAS-ual Fridays.
Awww thanks so much Michelle!
Cute cards! Thanks for sharing with us at Crafty Gals Corner!
Thanks so much Judy!
Wow! Such pretty cards! Love them! Thank you for joining us at TTCRD ATG challenge! Looking forward to seeing you again next time and good luck!
Sunila & Aditi
DT
Thanks so much Sunila & Aditi!
What a perfect card made for our for our Casual Fridays challenge! Good luck!
Awww thanks so much Irit!
CommentWonderful that you have shared your great artwork with us here at Creatalicious. Good luck hun and do come back again!
Jackie DT
Thanks so much Jackie!
Wonderful cards!
Thank you soo much for taking part in our “anything goes with optional flourishes” challenge over at Creatalicious & good luck in the draw.
Hope to see you again in our new challenge as well…
Hugs,
Melanie
(DT-Coordinator Creatalicious Challenges)
(DT Crafty Friends)
(DT The Sketchy Challenges)
PS: Sorry for the late comment, life had been very busy these past weeks…
Thanks for spreading crafty love, Melanie!
These cards are all so beautiful! Thanks a lot for joining last month’s challenge at 613 Avenue Create. Please join us again this month for some fun and inspiration. Have a blessed week!
JO ANN
http://jatterburycreations.blogspot.com
thank you so much Jo Ann!