Build a Wreath is the instruction

Die Cutting the Wreath

As usual, I used my Gemini to do the die cutting. I cut it out from Core’dinations card stock with on each of the different faces upwards but I decided that I definitely preferred the textured one. I also cut it out from white card stock just out of interest to see how it would look because I considered creating one with a white wreath and candy coloured decorations but although it may have looked sweet I reverted to type and went traditional.

Stamping the Decorations

Due to the tiny size of the stamps, my usual stamping method went totally out of the window! I stamped these out with my stamping pegs that I use with Cardio Majestic stamps. As I hadn’t decided at this point how I was going to colour them I used Nuvo hybrid ink so that my options could be kept open. After a few false starts with partial images, I got the hang of rolling the peg around and created 6 even stamps.

There was a bonus die in the centre of the wreath to allow you to cut a pine cone but I had less success with this:

A bit of sparkle

I decided the wreath would benefit from a bit of sparkle so I used my Spectrum Sparkle pens to colour the decorations in and was really happy with the result, as you can see.

However, when I came back to them a little while later I had suffered an explosion of Moonlight sparkle because the ink had been so wet when it came out (and yes before anyone asks they are stored horizontally in trays) this was the result I found!

It’s safe to say that I recoloured that image. When it came to cutting them out there was only one option my ScanNCut. I do not mind occasionally doing some fussy cutting it can be quite therapeutic but not images that small! So now for the completed card.

Creating a Card to Build a Wreath

I used a 4″ x 4″ card blank for this one and kept things really simple with no matting and layering. My Stamping Platform and some Tuxedo Black Memento were used to stamp the Holly in each of the corners of the card and the Ivy in-between this. I decided to play it safe after the moonlight explosion and coloured these in with Sparkle gel pens instead. The die-cut wreath was stuck to the centre with some Cosmic Shimmer Acrylic Glue and the decorations were fastened to the wreath with the same glue. Here is the completed card:

The Verdict

First of all, I go with my first opinion, the wreath is very modern looking and there is absolutely nothing wrong with this because a lot of people love that but I prefer real life pine appearance. The decorations are really sweet but having a quick look through my Hunkydory For the Love of Stamps Christmas collection I do have several similar ones, therefore, I have decided that this collection will be liberated for someone else to enjoy as I slowly get to grips with my craft stash. If you are unfamiliar with my project check out this post about Shopping your Stash.