The Card Concept {Rich Holiday}

Hello everyone! Every two weeks on Wednesday, The Card Concept posts a new challenge for you to participate in.  This week, our theme is Rich Holiday and we have this beautiful inspiration photo for you.  I know Christmas is still about 8 weeks away, but in our family, my husband and his siblings take turns hosting and this year is his sister Brenda's turn.  She lives in Arizona and didn't want to worry about travel during what could very possibly be blizzard or icy conditions.  That happened the last time she was hosting and there was ice and snow and no way for some of us to even make it home.  So this year, as Brenda is hosting again, we're gathering for the Family Christmas dinner at Thanksgiving.  As a card maker, I started making Christmas cards back in August so I'm really ready for Family Dinner in November. I've been working on things for my Sisters-In-Law and some of my grands to take to the dinner.  It's also the time of year when I take all the cards I have left from this year and let them select whatever they want.  I make a minimum of 4 cards each week and often more than that so there is always a lot for them to choose from.

For my card for this challenge, I wanted to use a new kit from Gina K Designs called Merry and Bright. This is actually my first kit from there, and I have to say, I have been highly impressed with the products from the inks to the paper and the stamps.  I ordered two ink cubes (Cherry Red and Fresh Asparagus) to try out the colors. Everything is extremely nice quality.  And the layering weight white cardstock is to die for.  It is so silky and stamps like a dream. It is #80 and similar to Neenah Solar White #80 cardstock.  My kit came with several sheets of 7 different color cardstocks and it's been great to get to try it out without having to buy whole packages. I did actually go back and order some of the cardstock to go with this kit specifically in colors I don't have from Papertrey Ink and I ordered two packages of the layering weight white just to have for stamping card fronts; also the Cherry Red, Fresh Asparagus, and Edible Eggplant. As much as I love Purple, I just don't use it as often as I thought I would.

For my card, I stamped a few of each size of poinsettias from the kit in Cherry Red and stamped the leaves in Fresh Asparagus onto Layering Weight White Cardstock. I left them dry for a half hour or so while I did a few other things and then die cut them with the coordinating dies. This is my third card from this kit so far and I made one similar to this last week so I had an idea of what I wanted to do for this card.  So I got all the elements die cut, stamped, heat embossed and ready to assemble.  For the center of the Poinsettias, I applied a generous amount of Ranger Multi Medium Matte and then put gold seed beads into it.  When that glue was dry, I flicked it on the back so that all the extra beads would come off and put them back into the container.

The label is actually an old die from Spellbinders called Bookplate.  Because it is older, you have to run it through a second time to get the embossing effect. I misted it on the back with one mist of water which helps the paper fibers to stretch.  Once I had that done, I made sure to let it dry completely, then used my powder tool before stamping the greeting (from the kit found here) in Versamark and heat set with Simon Says Stamp Antique Gold Embossing Powder.  Using the bookplate die as a stencil, I brushed the label with Versamark and then went over it with Gold Perfect Pearls.  It's very subtle and hard to see in the photo, but I like the effect.

After that I started assembling my card.   I made a top folding card base made from Stamper's Select White Cardstock and added first the gold foiled mat layer and then the Red Velvet panel on the top of that. Red Velvet Cardstock came in the Merry & Bright Kits as well.  Next, I added my sentiment label with Scotch 3M Foam Tape.  I had laid out my arrangement out ahead of time so I'd have a good idea of how I wanted to place everything.  I used Thin 3D Foam Squares to add the flowers and dot liner adhesive to adhere everything else to the card.  This is a very clean card with lots of "White" Space but still lots of layering and dimension.

Be sure to go to The Card Concept Challenge Blog and see all the beautiful inspiration from the other DT Members.  There are some stunning creations.