A Cardinal Christmas - My Shoebox swap September Demo Meeting

This new stamp set is in the Stampin'Up! holiday mini catalog available for purchase Oct. 1st. As soon as I saw the cardinal it took me back to watching the bright red male of the species flying around in the snowy winter at my parents farm. My grandfather was a bird watcher and loved cardinals as well.

I used the new In Color Riding Hood Red, Kraft and Chocolate Chip cardstock. Ink colors were Old Olive, Riding Hood Red and Black Stazon pads.

I started by stamping the cardinal in Black Stazon onto watercolor paper. I used the Aqua painter pens (On special starting Oct. 1st) to watercolor the body, beak, branch and leaves. I used the Real Red marker to color in the berries. Then I colored with Real Read and Old Olive on the foliage and berry stamp and gave it a good huff (stampers know what I mean!) and stamped that twice on the top and bottom piece of Kraft paper. Merry Christmas was stamped in Chocolate Chip. Last but not least I colored around the birds eye with the Black marker and used my white gel pen to make it look more realistic. I think it turned out great! Hope you enjoy.

BTW, this card was my shoebox swap for my upline's (Kimberly VanDiepen) Demo Meeting. We made some really beautiful cards that night ;)

Charlotte