Monday, February 10, 2014

Merry Little Cardinal

It's Merry Monday time again!  Take a peek and see if you can guess what the challenge is this week.



The challenge is

I used a stamp that I found in the dollar bin at Michaels last Christmas season.  I  was so happy to have an excuse to ink it up.

I stamped it on Very Vanilla and colored it with a blender pen dipped in ink.  The paper pilled on me.  I hate it when that happens!  I put the card together anyway but the more I looked at it, the less I liked it.  So, I stamped the bird again on a scrap piece and colored it directly with my Real Red SU marker.  It looked a lot better so I fussy cut him out and put him atop the mangy bird with dimensionals.  I like the added dimension.


I used Martha Stewart Sparkle Texture Effect for the snow on the tree. It sparkles IRL.  I couldn't seem to catch that with the camera.

This works for a few other challenges too.

Craftyhazelnut's Christmas #163 is to use die cut or punched shape. I have the sentiment on a punched oval.  LOL, if you look closely you can see that it's covering up a badly stamped sentiment. I love my punches!

Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra for February is anything goes as long as it's Christmas.

Cuttlebug Mania wants A TOUCH OF RED

Pixie's Snippet Playground only requires that we use snippets and play nice. 

Ways to Use It challenge at SCS is to color something.  I colored the cardinal.  Twice!

I've just seen all the beauties that the Design Team has come up with.  Be sure to check them out.  Then, I hope you'll add another Christmas card to your stash and join us over at Merry Monday!

Thanks for stopping by.

Enjoy!

Card Recipe

All supplies are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted

Stamps: Petite Pairs, Cardinal (Michaels)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), SU Markers (Real Red, Garden Green, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Basic Black)
Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla
Other: Stylish Stripes EF, Stitched Mats Rectangles (Lil Inkers), Small Oval Punch, Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine, Sparkle Texture Effect (Martha Stewart), Blender Pen




48 comments:

stampwithsandy said...

Oh, this is gorgeous Bonnie! I can't believe you found that beautiful stamp in a dollar bin. Love the sparkly texture on the snow, too.

Di said...

What a beautiful card Bonnie! I do so wish we had Red Cardinals where I live, such lovely coloured birds.

Love yoru card, and so many 'saves' too - not that we'd have known if you didn't say though.

You're right, choosing the Playground picks harder each week - there are so many fabulous ideas and beautiful results to choose from. Some weeks I try to focus on clever techniques and ways to use snippets that folk might want to try - but then I get sidetracked by those I just can't leave out :)

Hugs, Di xx

Benzi said...

Your cardinal is beautiful, Bonnie, and so is your complete card. I love that embossed panel, too.

Sarn said...

Good save Bonnie! Love this Red Cardinal card. xxx

Joni Andaya said...

BEAUTIFUL card Bonnie! Love this!

Katie Melhus said...

This is such a lovely, fresh looking card! My Grandma loved cardinals and we always think of her at Christmas when see them a lot. Love this!

Tracey McNeely said...

Bonnie gorgeous card!

Kristie Goulet said...

Love your red cardinal, Bonnie! I can just picture the snow sparkling in real life. Have a great week!

Marisa said...

Lovely clean lines and the snow on the pine boughs is fabulous!

Princess Judy Palmer said...

I laughed at your "I colored the cardinal--twice!" bit. It drives me crazy when a piece of your image goes awry, especially when it's from being colored. Great card, love the snow effects.

I like Merry Monday in that I don't find out the challenge until I get to work and then I spend the morning wondering what I have that fits it. Then I get pleasantly surprised when I get home and find out what I really have.

Faith A at Daffodil Cards said...

Beautiful card and love the embossing as well as your bird.

Jenny L said...

Hi Bonnie,
I too love that beautiful stamp and can't believe where you bought it.
You have made a really superb creation with it.
Love everything about this gem of a creation.
Lots of crafty love. Jenny L.

MaryH said...

Oh Bonnie, you KNOW I am loving this one!!! So very beautiful, and I am wondering how I missed this in Mike's..and for $1...you lucky stamper! Love your boo-boo story. You did a marvelous save, and I love the stitching, the matting, and most of all..that beautiful red cardinal. TFS & brightening a rather dreary afternoon. Hugs and Thanks for the lovely Valentine. Made our day.

Sue - said...

Gorgeous stamp Bonnie - what a bargain!

jimlynn said...

He doesn't look mangy any more that's for sure! He's beautiful and so is your card! I love that stamp you used and don't understand why I can't ever mind goodies like that in the bins!
Beautiful card Bonnie!
Lynn

Hettie said...

Awww. Pwetty card there Bonnie. I do like this embossing folder.
Hugs
xx

Kathleen said...

Fabulous card the image really pops on the cream card, very classy looking card.

Kath x

Kathleen said...

Fabulous card the image really pops on the cream card, very classy looking card.

Kath x

Sue said...

Hi Bonnie thanks for your lovely comment on my blog. I love cardinals I wish we had them over here they are so beautiful and so is your card it's gorgeous, huggles Sue xxx

Lynn said...

Great card. The image is wonderful, and I love the texture of the snow. Lynn x

Irish Cherokee said...

You did a great job Bonnie. Who doesn't love a bright red cardinal against the snow? Special.

Gibmiss said...

Hi Bonnie
Fabulous card.... Love the embossing.... Looks Fabulous....
Hugs Sylvie xxx

Monika/Buzsy said...

Beautiful card Bonnie. Love the cardinal and the coloring. The white dry embossed panel is so elegant.

Kathy Schweinfurth said...

Bonnie, your creation is just gorgeous and so very elegant! I adore your style!!

Bobby said...

I'm sorry but I love it when I hear other people have troubles with their crafting. I makes me think there's hope for me yet.
I love this card but then I'm a bird fancier. I can't believer that was a dollar stamp. You really made the most of it.

dpkennedy said...

Well, a happy accident made a beautiful bird! I love the snow on the branches too! Beautiful card Bonnie!

LeAnne said...

Just beautiful, Bonnie! I have been enjoying the cardinals at my feeder during this last snowstorm. I love how you saved your project and layered over your mangy bird...you are too funny! I am glad I am not the only one who has to back up and start anew on some of her projects!!!

Darnell said...

I love your dimensional top bird/over mangy bird Christmas card, Bonnie! You saved the day! No one likes a pilly bird, that's for darn sure!! Hugs, Darnell

Karren said...

If you hadn't fessed up to messing up your first cardinal, we all would have thought you were intending to have a layered effect on your card, Bonnie :) This is just gorgeous and I love that snow - must go looking for that product now!

Karen Davis said...

I just adore Cardinals Bonnie, so colourful. The snow on the branches looks so real! Such an elegant card.

Cynthia said...

Mangy bird??!! HAHAHA!! Love that! And I do love how the non-mangy bird came out--what a gorgeous card!!

Sandy said...

Beautiful - absolutely beautiful!
sandy xx

Susan said...

You lucky person, finding that stamp in the $1 bin!! I love cardinal stamps. You turned it into a beautiful card - one of my favourites of your Christmas cards! Great idea to layer a fussy cut cardinal on top of the pilled one. Perfect layout too with a red border to match the red cardbase.

Anonymous said...

Wow! Such a pretty card!! I've never seen a stamp that nice in the dollar bin at my Michael's. I'm amazed when I see the great dollar stamps that people across the Internet find in their Michael's dollar bins. I think the stores around here get whatever is left in the bottom of the barrel after headquarters sends all the good stamps out to all the other stores across the country! LOL! I've pretty much stopped looking anymore after spending lots of time in the past going through all those dollar stamps and finding nothing.

Susan Joyce said...

Very elegant Holiday card Bonnie, just lovely. We all love a bargain you certainly found one, pretty image.

Jean said...

Beautiful card Bonnie, the redeemed cardinal bird looks great. I love the embossed background as well.
Jean x

scrappymo! said...

Gorgeous! You do the best red and white cards. Your reds always pop off the page. This is a fabulous stamp and I would have bought it too if I had been lucky enough to see it at my Michaels.

Notes by Nina said...

Beautiful card Bonnie, this image is so pretty and I love the red and vanilla.

Debbie Henderson Debbie's Designs said...

I always tell my customers that there's a way to fix all boo-boos and you did a great job. Love the layered look of the bird!

Renate said...

Wat een mooie, stijlvolle kerstkaart met die vogel. Mooi gemaakt! Leuk dat je meedoet bij CHCC Extra. Veel geluk bij de trekking.

Groetjes, Renate

Hazel said...

Thanks for entering both of my CHNC challenges with your lovely card - hope to see you again soon. x

Loll said...

Hi Bonnie. Your cardinal is gorgeous! Don't you love when something goes wrong and the fix makes it even better!! I love the dimension from the second layer and when I saw the card (before reading your post), I thought you had done paper tole ... in purpose! :) Fabulous image and the snow texture is so pretty and adds even more dimension. You always inspire me! Loll xx

Greta said...

Classic, elegant, gorgeous!

Monika/Buzsy said...

Gorgeous card Bonnie. Love the pretty cardinal and the texture on the tree... very elegant.

Wendy said...

Beautiful card, Bonnie! Love that cardinal image and the embossed lines along with your sentiment and red & white twine! So pretty! :)

Shelia said...

Bonnie, your red cardinal is gorgeous! I really like the dimension you achieved with the bird & sentiment!!

Margaret Moody said...

What a gorgeous card, Bonnie! I love your cardinal and love that you gave him some dimension! The added snowflakes are a fabulous touch too!

scrappymo! said...

Back again with my design team hat on...
Your card is so lovely...they are such majestic birds and you have coloured him beautifully!

Thank you for joining us this month at Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra.
Maureen aka Scrappymo!