Dashing through the wind and rain

Keen blog-hoppers may already be familiar with Dasher, which has been a really popular stamp over in America and Canada. Now he’s here at last, in our new Mini catalogue.

There are a couple of things I need to tell you about this card so this will be a long one but it’s my birthday, so indulge me.

First of all I must thank Emma who very kindly stepped in and sent me a few rhinestone brads when I realised I didn’t have enough small red ones left. Stampin’ Up! Demonstrators are a lovely bunch who are always willing to help each other out and I’m very grateful.

Now I must explain why I’m showing you a Christmas card in the middle of spring, albeit on a windy, rainy and rather wintry day. I did a party recently for another Helen, who is a big Christmas cardmaker! She already has quite a stack of them handmade and ready to go. Very impressive!

I knew she’d love Dasher so I demoed this card at her party. It looks quite complicated – and does demonstrate quite a few techniques – but it’s quite simple really, when you break it down.

First I took a piece of Night & Day Designer Series Paper. This is the black and white pack from the Mini catalogue. It’s gorgeous and elegant ... and so versatile because you can make it any colour you like. I brayered over the piece using Real Red ink to create this striking black and red pattern. I put that aside to dry as it does take quite a while, due to the large amount of ink used.

Next I inked Dasher with Basic Black ink and then, using a sponge dauber, applied Champagne Mist shimmer paint on top of the ink just to his antlers. One dip in the lid of the paint is enough, so you don’t have to contaminate your paint with black ink. This allows the black to show through a little but gives the antlers a lovely shimmer. I mounted this on Basic Black and Real Red layers.

I made three pencil marks on the antlers, to show me where the punch the holes for the brads. I used the Crop-A-Dile™ for this because, with these rhinestone brads, you do need quite a large hole.

The dried Designer Series Paper was mounted on a Very Vanilla card blank and the striped ribbon tied around. I’d cut my initial sheet of A4 Very Vanilla lengthways to create a card blank which opens at the side, to accommodate the ribbon. Otherwise you could add another layer under the paper and tie the ribbon around that. But don’t try it around just the paper as it will just buckle.

I used the gorgeous new Tiny Tags, stamped on Real Red, Very Vanilla and Basic Black cardstock to create little tags using the new Jewellery Tag punch. I used a needle to thread these onto Linen Thread and pass this through the already tied ribbon. (I tried placing it on the untied ribbon and tying it around it but it didn’t work out too well!)

Finally, I added Dasher to the card using Stampin’ Dimensionals to pop him up. This allows room for the backs of the brads.

I have to say, I LOVE this card!

Stamps: Dasher, Tiny Tags
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Basic Black, Real Red
Paper: Night & Day
Ink: Real Red, Basic Black
Accessories: Wide Striped Grosgrain Ribbon - Basic Black, Linen Thread, Medium Jewelry Tag punch, Crop-A-Dile™, Rhinestone brads, Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint

All products by Stampin' Up!®