Jovial Poinsettia - Christmas Card Week 36

Evening All

I've been playing with inks and my Cuttlebug this afternoon - getting my fingers dirty and finding out what I can do with a Spellbinder layered poinsettia die set. The design paper is pretty special - Basic Grey's Jovial Shopkeeper. It's one of those designs that could be used for any occasion - I just thought it looked very festive and Christmassy. All I did was cover the front of a cream base card with the paper and then sponged the edges with Adirondack Noel ink pad - using the green end. This is one of those ink pads that I've bought and then wondered why. Opening it was a disappointment ... I didn't really like the colours and I suspect this was because they've bled into each other ... they're quite muddy in places. However, today that muddy green was just perfect :)

I cut the poinsettia petals out in some leftover white Neenah Solar and the leaves from a snippet of green - origin long forgotten. The petals are edged with TH Fired Brick and the leaves with the green end of the Noel pad. I've been really unsure about using dies with my Cuttlebug - it's the damage it does to the plate that really upsets me ... I know, that's normal but I take some convincing. However, seeing the beautiful results many crafters achieve with them persuaded me to get over it!!

I managed to repeat a mistake made before when distressing the edges and got ink smudging on the back. So some rescue measures were needed ... and that's where the piece of card left from cutting the poinsettia shapes came in useful - saved the day in fact :) It made a great stencil. I used one of my ink dusters to stipple the muddy green ink ... my, but that ink pad earned it's place in my crafting arsenal today :) ... through the template in very much a random fashion then inked the edges ... now my smudges look deliberate - phew!!

Stippled a couple on the inside and left it blank for now ... will probably add a sentiment when I've decided who will get the card.

Because it is such a busy pattern, embellishments were kept to a minimum - just some green satin ribbon, red/white baker's twine and a beautiful red brad from Papermania's A Silent Night collection - leftover from last year too!! So more snippets and leftovers used up, but this time married up to a piece from a new and treasured 12"x12" sheet of DP ... so not sure whether this qualifies in Jules' rules as a snippet make.

I plan to submit this card to the following:

Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas Challenge #36 - No Sentiment

Jules Sunday Snippet Challenge - Week 35 - it consists of 90% snippets and leftovers

Snoflake's Christmas Card Challenge over at Docrafts - Week 36

Now, I'm off to do some digital, or should that be hybrid, scrapbooking ...  that is, starting on the computer using graphics software then printing out onto paper and finishing the page of by hand ... this could be a huge disaster but I'm determined to give it a go :) 

Happy crafting folks,