Wondrous Wreath Challenge No 4

Hello, Crafters.

This is another card using the wreath as a non-wreath.

When I decided I was going to use it like this, I guessed the mantelpiece would look rather bare and I wasn't sure what I was gong to do about it apart from the cat.

I was also debating about a sentiment.

One idea was to use the polar bear from the White Christmas Stamp Set, stamp one and then a reverse, fussy cut them and put them on the mantelpiece as ornaments but they just looked like polar bears!  

Then I had a light-bulb moment!

Some years ago, we were in Denmark and bought 4 red wooden free-standing letters that spelt XMAS - decision made!

I used the Little Letters Thinlits Dies and chose NOEL as I think it takes up slightly less room than XMAS. 

I did consider using JOY but I like the way the cat is sitting slightly in front of the N.

I chose Sahara Sand Card Stock for my card base, with a layer of Soft Suede followed by a layer of Sahara Sand, which I embossed  using the Brick Wall Embossing Folder.

I used Soft Suede Card Stock and Ink for the fireplace and cut it out in the same way I demonstrated on my video Christmas Fireplace Tealight Card video.

I also considered heat embossing the fireplace on Whisper White and then fussy cutting it  but I found a vellum one painted and ready to be used - not sure where it came from but waste not, want not.

It looked rather dark so I adhered it to some Whisper White and cut it out without any white edges exposed.

The stockings were stamped using Soft Suede ink on Whisper White Card Stock and painted with Cherry Cobbler and Garden Green Marker Pens.

These were fussy cut because I didn't want any white showing and I added Dazzling Diamonds to the tops.

Like wise with the cat, I stamped with Soft Suede Ink on Sahara Sand Card Stock, fussy  cut and then I drew an eye and extra whiskers to make him look as if he's looking front.

The wreath was stamped in Garden Green, Wild Wasabi and Cherry Cobbler Inks on Whisper White Card Stock and die cut using the Wonderful Wreath Framelit Dies.

The die for the beautiful "stringy" Red Glimmer bows came from the Mini Treat Bag Thinlits Dies.

I'll try and think of something a bit easier for today's challenge card! Until tomorrow, happy crafting.

JanB.