I pulled out my Birthday Fiesta set last week, intending to force out a cute birthday card to use for my Stamp Camp. I pulled out Emerald Envy ink, and the next thing I knew, I had a brainstorm, and my cactus was a Christmas tree!
Project Recipe
Start with an Emerald Envy card base, cut to 4.75" x 9.5", scored at 4.75". This is a square card. Next, cut a 4.5" square layer out of Whisper White cardstock. Then cut a 4.25" square layer out of Real Red cardstock. Emboss the Real Red layer with the Lucky Stars Embossing Folder and the Big Shot.
Next, stamp the llama from Birthday Fiesta in Memento Tuxedo Black ink. You could also use Archival Black ink -- I already had the Memento ink sitting on my desk. Go ahead and decorate your llama before you cut him out, too. I stamped three snowflakes from the Peaceful Pines stamp set on his blanket in Emerald Envy, then stamped the banner that goes around his neck, but I stamped it as a necklace, in Real Red. I stamped the same snowflake as a pendant. Cut out your llama using the Fiesta Time framelits and the Big Shot.
Now cut two banners out of Whisper White cardstock using the Fiesta Time framelits. Then stamp each flag with the stamps that look most like snowflakes for each shape, alternating Real Red and Emerald Envy.
Stamp the cactus in Emerald Envy. If you have a little trouble getting a well-defined image, don't give up. I had to give it a few tries before I figured out how this stamp likes to be treated. First, make sure you're not getting too much ink on the stamp. If you're doing the tap-tap-tap when you ink your stamp, and your pokey cactus things (um, thorns, Sarah) aren't showing up on your stamped image, try just tap-tapping. Also, don't press down quite as hard when you stamp it. Practice on scratch paper or grid paper until you get a good image.
Next, cut out your cactus Christmas tree decorations. I stamped the star, ornament, and gift from the Peaceful Pines stamp set in Daffodil Delight, Real Red, and Tempting Turquoise, respectively.
Stamp "JOLLY" from the Oh, What Fun stamp set in Emerald Envy on Whisper White, then cut it out with Paper Snips.
Now it's time to assemble the card.
Glue the Whisper White layer to the card base, then add the embossed Real Red layer. Next situate and glue down the banners. You'll have to snip off extra banners on the sides of the card.
Before you glue down the cactus, it needs some tinsel! Wrap some Silver Metallic thread around it several times, then add glue to the back, and glue it down. Glue on the ornament, the star, and the gift, then draw a line from the cactus to the ornament using a Basic Black marker. An ornament needs a hanger, right?
Pop the llama and the sentiment up on Dimensionals, and you're done!
You can buy all the supplies you need to make this card in my online Stampin' Up! store by clicking the pictures below. To print this tutorial, click on the TAMS link.