Beary Christmas with Northern Lights

I've *always* wanted to make a "northern lights" card. I've actually seen the aurora borealis a few times and they are mesmerizing and magical! So when I saw this card in the Beary Christmas Memories and More Cards pack, I knew I wanted to add the northern lights to it. 

This was a 4x6" printed panel so I cut it down slightly to 5.25x4" fit on a standard A2 card base (5.5" x 4.25").

First I cut apart the printed panel at the horizon line, along the water line and along the iceberg lines. The top part that I cut away had the sentiment so I saved that to add back later. I cut a piece of Basic White cardstock to 5.25x4" and started using blending brushes with my Parakeet Party ink pad and made a few fuzzy diagonal lines. Then I repeated with Pretty Peacock, brushing beside but not covering up the Parakeet Party areas. Finally, I filled in the night sky with Night of Navy ink. 

In retrospect, I wish I had used more Night of Navy and perhaps even a little Basic Gray to darken the night sky further. Well, maybe next time...! (and next time, more "in progress" photos!).

I adhered the ink brushed panel to the card front, added the bottom, propped it up with Dimensionals, then cut the sentiment in two...adding the first part on the front and the second part inside.

Last but not least, I used a white gel pen to the card front to add dots for stars...including a small rendition of the big dipper! (I didn't have the confidence to alter the star sizes...another detail to finesse the next time I try this technique.)

Hope you enjoyed the descriptive of how I created this card. This was my very first attempt so I didn't really expect it to turn out! LOL

Happy holidays!

Cozy and Bright Holiday Card Kit Alternative

Trying to get myself in a little holiday mood, I bought a card kit called Cozy and Bright. It's an all-inclusive kit, meaning it includes all supplies to make the cards as designed: envelopes, card bases, die cuts, stickers, double sided dimensional foam stickers, glue dots, mini ink pad, clear photopolymer stamps, an acrylic block and a roll of twine. (I hope I didn't forget anything!) The kit makes 10 cards but like always, I made one per the included instructions, then created an alternate design.

Before I get into the details of my modifications, here's the card as designed in the kit:

The kit came with several options for the sentiment, and I chose this one given the potpourri elements in the card's die cuts.

Then I decided I really wanted to add the pine cones from last year's Christmas Season stamp and die set. I also wanted to downplay the orange slices a little. So I rotated the card base! Then I added a vellum die cut to add a layer without hiding too much and then a stamped white sentiment label on top using another sentiment from the same kit. The sentiment label was popped up with dimensionals. I added the two pine cones and last but not least, a few red rhinestones. 

The kit came with pre-printed envelopes (shown below) and I didn't want to waste them...so I added just a quarter of a "slice" of orange to the front as well as the inside of the card so that it would all still coordinate well. 

This kit is a great way to get a head start on your holiday cards! Also, this kit sold out last year so don't wait too long if you're interested in ordering it. I'm happy to assist...just let me know!