R2G Card Kit - Gold Tags

I started with the gold ornament tags.  I found blue cards that coordinated well.  I chose a pale yellow layer which I embossed with the Cuttlebug Victoria folder.  It was cut to leave a small border.  I wrapped a seam binding in warm dark blue from top to bottom and taped the ends to the back.  The embossed layer was then adhered to the card front.  The large gold ornament tag was then adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape.  A quick card in soft warm colors. 

R2G Card Kit - Snowflake is Butterfly

I started with a black card.  I added a piece of sparkly background paper which leaves a small border.  I cut the large white snowflake with the Cricut and the Winter Lace cartridge.  It was cut at 3.75 inches.  It was placed in the top third of the card and tacked to the card front with a bit of snail adhesive. The silver foil snowflake is a Martha Stewart punch and the smaller black one is also.  There is a tiny irridescent sequin in the centre.  All the snowflakes are held in place with a tiny black brad.  I added a .75 inch strip of black card stock onto which I wrapped a length of white grosgrain ribbon and taped the ends to the back.  This layer was adhered to the card front below the snowflake across the bottom.  The greeting was color printed and punched with the SU Artisan Label punch.  It is adhered over the ribbon with 3D foam tape. 

R2G Card Kit - Polar Bear

I'm working on Ready 2 Go kits for my upcoming classes.  I just love this polar bear from the Cricut Joy of the Season cartridge. He was cut at 2.25" from white paper.  I cut his scarf from non shedding glitter paper and adhered it to the bear die cut. I added his ear, eye and nose with a black marker. The star is from the same glitter paper punched with the Creative Memories Sparkle punch.  I selected a white card and then adhered a dark blue/light blue star background designer paper by Creative Imaginations leaving a small border.  I then designed a vellum greeting layer including the sentiment, trees and a line representing a snowbank.  I color printed it then clear embossed it. I trimmed inside a grey border I had included when printing.  I then adhered the bear to the vellum with dry adhesive and the star with a small Zot.  Then I turned it over and only applied dry adhesive to the areas covered by the bear and star to ensure the adhesive did not show through the vellum.  This layer was then adhered to the card front leaving a small border of the blue star paper.

Mosaic Monday - Canada Geese Story

Here's a few pics from my walk this morning.  I was up with the birds you might say.  I can see that the river is starting to break up and it will soon be flowing freely.  Magpies are one of the only birds here that are familar with people so they don't scatter like the others.  Happy with this shot.  Crab apples from last year dangling against the clear blue sky.  These last for shots of the Canada tell a story.  I heard them before I saw them.  The first quickly landed on the roof of the building but the other made several turns around the area.  The second picture you can barely see it through trees as it makes still another fly by.  Once it had committed to the roof they greeted each other.  Then they sat on the roof surveying the neighborhood.  Are they planning to settle in?  Who knows.

How To - Bubble Technique to Decorate Paper

I'm working on my Christmas Card Challenge for April which is Peace, Coloring and Large Greeting. 
I wanted some decorative paper for the background of my large greeting so I made some bubble paper for the project. 
It is quite a messy process so I covered my space with my trusty blue plastic mat.  It took several containers and straws till I got the look I wanted.  The small container and the small straw worked best for me.  I cut my paper into quarter sheets as I will be using them for cards. The color changed as I added drops of color.  Blue, purple, added yellow to get green. I have 36 sheets of beautiful paper to use in this project and future projects. It was an absolute blast!
Looking for something to do with the kids while they are home on spring break?  Give it a try!
Check back April 1 to see the card I made for the challenge.  Have you started your Christmas cards? Seize the moment and get a few made. 

50th Wedding Anniversary Invites

I completed the order for these wedding anniversary invitations today.  The request was yellow with a bit of turquoise and 50 should be included.
I started with a yellow card.  I embossed a white layer cut to 4 x 5.25 inches with the Cuttlebug Juli's Garden folder.  I pull a piece of turquoise ribbon with a silver accent across this layer and taped the ends to the back.  This was then adhered to the card front.  The scallop accent was created with a Stampin Up Scallop circle punch in the same yellow as the card, then a 1 3/8" circle punch, then a 1.25" punch with the 50 color printed on it with a yellow circle.  I then added a rhinestone heart over the 50. This accent was adhered over the ribbon with 3D foam tape. The insert was customized with the invitation information.

Watercolor & Vellum HB

I started with an ombre background made on watercolor paper, Stampin Up More Mustard Watercolor Wonder Crayon and an Aqua Painter brush. I selected a Night of Navy card.  I stamped my images on vellum in hopes of not losing too much of my ombre background.  The You're Amazing Happy Birthday and the flowers from the In the Spotlight stamp set were stamped in NofN and clear embossed. I find I'm using my heat gun more, now that it is always plugged in and near at hand.  The greeting was just trimmed straight and adhered to the WC background on the left hand side. I layered a strip of So Saffron card stock over the watercolor paper edge on the left. The flowers were punched with the Five Petal punch and adhered to the card front with Zots.

 I'm submitting this card to the following challenges:

CAS Colours and Sketches - 117 Sketch

 

City Crafters Challenge - 254 Go Ombre

Darnell is the guest designer this month.

Neutral Blocks - Sketch

I started with a Stampin Up Whisper White card.  I selected 3 designer papers to create the blocks to follow the sketch.  I cut the pieces 2 inches tall and about 1.5 inches wide. I layered them from left to right leaving the left hand side not attached, I just taped them together on the back.  This adds a bit of dimension.  The DSP are Ruby Red and Sahara Sand from the Patterns Pack Designers Series Paper III.  The one on the right are the same colors with white and is from the Holiday Lounge DSP collection. These 3 were mounted on a piece of Sahara Sand card stock which was then adhered to the card front. I stamped the greeting from the Simply Wonderful stamp set in Ruby Red ink.  It needed something else so I added a vintage button which matched well with some white pearl thread through the holes held in place with a Zot.




I'm submitting this card to this challenge.
SU Fab Friday - Sketch

I was Spotted - City Crafter's Challenge Blog

My Conch Shell card was spotted on City Crafter challenge blog

Card Club - March - Nine Square Block

This card provides an Easter card for those in the group who are wanting one.
This card has a nine square block layered a couple of times.  I punched 1" squares from double sided designer paper to ensure the colors coordinated. I selected a dark teal square cut to 3.25" for the first layer onto which these squares are mounted. I then adhered this to a 3.5 inch square of white.  It was then adhered to the orange card in a landscape/wide orientation. The greeting color coordinated with the card color and layered onto a teal strip same color as the square.  I trimmed the ends at an angle. The greeting was mounted to the card front as shown with 3D foam tape.  These kits are all customized to the DSP used which is quite time consuming but it is a scrap buster design.

Card Club - March - Vellum Greeting

I started with a digital greeting from Bird's Cards. I changed the greeting then laid out a few and color printed them on vellum.  I was quick so I was able to cover them with clear embossing powder and heat them.  Really happy with the results.  I cut a Stampin Up Top Note from handmade paper then another from colored paper.  I matched the 1.75 inch circle behind the greeting with the same paper.  The vellum was cut with Spellbinder Smooth Circle Nestabilities. I cut the colored Top Note in half crosswise and trimmed the bumps off the right and left hand side one the cut I just made.  I offset the color Top Note behind the handmade paper one.  I wrapped baker's twine/thread around the bottom half, knotted it and trimmed the ends.  This layer was then adhered to the grey card front.  I layered the colored circle, the vellum greeting on the top half of the Top Note and created a hole in the middle of the rose with a push pin.  Pushed the brad through and spread the prongs apart on the inside of the card.  I created birthday, thinking of you, and sympathy greetings.

Card Club - March - Birthday Wish

I created the white greeting layer and then color printed.  I trimmed it to 3.75 x 5.00 inches.  I had placed my Stampin Up Little Letters thinlits as I wanted them on my magnetic platform.  I placed registration marks as to where the corners needed to be aligned.  I put wax paper between my card stock and the dies so they would fall out easily. With this prepared cutting went really well.  I then placed a small piece of copper metallic paper behind the cut out word.  This layer was then adhered to the card front.  I then placed 3 copper sequins to the card with mini Zots.  I provided some kits with silver foil paper and silver sequins for behind the word.

Card Club - March - Umbrella

I had requests for baby shower, bridal shower, and for others something else.  I decided on an umbrella.  This could serve for baby shower, bridal shower, under the weather, or Thinking of you.  That made for a versatile design.  The umbrella was cut with the Cricut with Tie the Knot cartridge at 3.5".  I cut one grey and one colored as this green polka dots paper.  This was a great scrap buster technique! The greeting layer was designed then printed on white card stock.  I matched the card color to the color of the umbrella canopy.





I have made kits in pinks, blues, lavender for the shower cards and bright colors for the get well and thinking of you card kits.  The bridal shower cards were a hit!

Card - Christmas Dove

I started with a dove cut with the Cricut and the Folk Art Cartridge.  I cut the shadow in pearl paper and the filigree top layer from blue patterned paper. It was cut at 3.25 inches. I adhered the blue layer onto the pearl layer.  I found a coordinating blue card and some Recollections snowflake paper which was cut to leave a small border and adhered to the card front.  I added some white seam binding tied across the card front in the bottom third.  I added a small 1 inch circle greeting tied to the knot in the seam binding.  I mounted the dove layer to the card front with 3D foam tape.

I'm submitting this card to the following challenges:
Come and Get It Card Challenges - Winging It

Fantabulous Cricut Challenges - Bye Bye Birdie

Sparkles Christmas Card Challenges - Anything Goes

Beach Coral - Conch Shell

I started with a coral card.  I added a layer of grey card stock.  I created a watercolor background with Nick Bantock Rose Madder and Chrome Yellow.  Once dried and ironed flat I printed the greeting and bubbles in grey.  I found the conch shell on CLKER.  I printed it and layered it onto grey card stock.  This layer is adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape.




I'm submitting this card to City Crafter Challenge Blog - Inspiration Photo.

50th Wedding Anniversary Sample2

Here's the next sample I put together.

I started with a Stampin Up Whisper White card.  I cut a quarter sheet piece of Daffodil Delight yellow to leave a small border and stamped it with the Soft Swirls background stamp with Summer Sun ink.  I wrapped the Tempting Turquoise ribbon across the yellow layer and it was adhered to the card front. I cut the Deco Label framelit in white, then one from the Beyond the Garden DSP in DD and WW. I created a circle accent with the Number It stamp set in TT.  I mounted the larger white one behind the ribbon. The yellow Deco Label diecut and circle accent is mounted over the ribbon with 3D foam tape.

50th Wedding Anniversary Card Sample1

I was asked to design and create invitations for a 50th Wedding Anniversary.  I put together 3 ideas, I am presenting here 2 of the options I put together.

The request was to have a mainly yellow card with a bit of turquoise. I printed one of my alcohol ink backgrounds from the other day onto a golden yellow card.  I placed a skinny border all the way around.  I added yellow grosgrain ribbon across the card front layered onto a teal card stock strip which coordinated well with the background.  I added a floral accent which included a silk white flower, a golden yellow silk, then a small handmade paper teal one held in place with a tiny white brad.  The sentiment was printed in the left hand bottom corner in teal.

Card - Christmas Ornament

I found this tutorial for the Bokeh technique with Stampin Up products. I tried it but I fear I have not be very successful. I made the background with watercolor paper and Brilliant Blue, Pacific Point, Brocade Blue re-inkers and Whisper White craft ink.  I trimmed it to leave a small border of the Not Quite Navy card.  I cut the ornament with the SU Ornament Keepsakes frame-lits. I added a strip of Silver Glimmer paper on the left hand side. I cut a bow with the Tim Holtz Bunny die from the same paper. I cut a narrow strip of the silver paper and mounted it onto a narrow strip of NQN card stock. I mounted a circle of vellum and a Martha Stewart snowflake punch in the centre of the ornament.  I added stitching around the vellum circle with a silver pen and also added markings on the hanger and the bottom tip. I mounted the ornament to the card front wit 3D foam tape.  I added texture to the background with SU Itty Bitty Background stamps in NQN.

I'm submitting the card to the following challenges:
Sparkles Christmas Challenges - Inspiration Photo - blue and silver ornaments.
Holly Jolly Christmas Challenges - Stitching 

Card - White and Green Challenge

I started with a Stampin Up Wild Wasabi green card.  I embossed a piece of Whisper White with the SU Vintage Wallpaper textured impressions folder. I painted the centers of the embossed images with a water brush dipped in a drop of WW ink. I painted the dots in the embossed layer with a silver paint marker. I stamped the greeting with ink coordinating with the card.  The stamp is from the Greetings of the Season stamp set. I punched it with the Decorative Label punch and offset it with a silver one.  I put a WW stitched grosgrain ribbon across the bottom 1/3 of the embossed layer and taped the ends to the back. Mounted the greeting with 3D foam tape.



I'm submitting this card to the Stampin Celebration Challenges: Inspiration Photo.

Mosaic Monday - Sunflowers

I'm hoping these sunny flowers will inspire the weather to get warmer. We had a really nice day on Saturday and I spent it with my sisters and niece. It was a very good day.

Sunflowers are my favorite flower so I always have a good number of shots.  I love the variety of colors which come with these flowers. Yellow to deep oranges can be found. Bees love them as I see 2 of my shots include them gathering nectar.


I'm submitting this to Mosaic Monday at Lavendar Cottage hosted by Judith.

Card - Canary in a Bird Cage

I made 2 of these cards for my monthly card exchange because when I send my cards at the beginning at the month I made a mistake.

I created the background for the bird cage with the Watercolor Smooching technique.  Here's a link to the tutorial I found on line.  I used an acrylic plate, dye ink pads and light watercolor paper.

I cut the bird cage at 4" with the Cricut and the Straight from the Nest cartridge from blue card stock.  I cut the bird from yellow card stock to make it a canary.  It adhered over the blue one cut with the cage.  I took the swirl from the bottom edge of the cage to create a hanger.  I added a bit of a link between it and the cage with a marker.

Submitting this card to the following:
Come and Get It Challenges - Make your own Background

Card - Shower Baby or Bridal

These were made from pieces cut trying out options for my umbrella card club at the end of the month.
The umbrella was cut with the Cricut and the Tie the Knot cartridge.  I cut the solid piece from metallic card stock then cut the open cut work one from grey card stock. I added a pearl white thread bow on the handle just below the canopy. The greeting layer was color printed in grey with a fine border. The layer was trimmed close to the border.  I added a layer of the same metallic paper to the 4.00 x 5.25" size then layered these onto a top fold grey card.
I'm thinking either would for baby or bridal.  What do you think?  Leave me a comment.

Card - Spring Colors

Many of us are so waiting for spring.  This card has yellow and green which hopefully bring on the flowers and green grass.
I chose a dill green textured card stock.  I put a strip of yellow striped washi tape on an angle from top left to bottom right.  Putting it directly on the green paper toned it down a bit. I sponged watercolor paper with Chrome Yellow and Sap Green liquid acrylic color. I ripped the paper to have rough edges on all sides.  I stamped a flower in Versafine Onyx with a small clear stamp.  I added the words with the same ink on the block of textured yellow card stock.
I am submitting this card to the Less is More Challenge 214 Yellow and Green.

Card - Time Flies

I bought this Tim Holtz Picture Wheel die a while ago with the idea of being able to turn it into a clock when I wanted. Today was the day.  I cut the Picture Wheel in turquoise card stock. I designed the clock graphic and printed it on vellum. I clear embossed the numbers when the printer ink was still wet.  I had to be really fast. I cut a 2 inch circle from the center of the vellum to put in the center on the turquoise piece.  I cut the clock hands with the Cricut and the Grahically Speaking cartridge big one at 4 inches and smaller one at 3.25 inches.  I adhered the turquoise to the vellum ensuring the numbers were aligned.  I selected a coral card. I printed one of my alcohol ink backgrounds from this session onto the front of the card to add a bit of texture. I rubbed the edges of the card with a turquoise ink pad. I adhered the clock face to the card. The vellum circle and the hands were added next with a tiny black brad. I cut the word TIME with the Stampin Up Little Letter thin lits in the turquoise card stock and flagged the right hand side. I then layered it onto black card stock and trimmed around it leaving a tiny border.  This was adhered to the left hand side near the card edge.  I added the word flies by hand by printing the word onto a piece of paper and then tracing it onto the card with a black pen and the help of a light table.  Super happy with the card.
Submitting this card to City Crafters Challenge - Keys to the Time being hosted by Darnell.

Card - Friendship

I made this card for a challenge on one of my on-line groups.  The challenge is was to make a friendship card.
I printed the birthday greeting on the white card before I cut the Friend letters with the Stampin Up Little Letters thin-lits. I cut the white layer to 3.75 x 5.00". I paired it with one of my alcohol ink backgrounds from this session. The background was cut at 5.25 x 4.00" and glued it to the card front.  I added a strip of Washi Tape across the centre of the card. Over that, I added some silk flowers in bright pink and deep purple held in place with a black brad. This layer was then adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape which creates great shadows in the Friend word.

Mosaic Monday - Angels

I've put together a set of angels I have.  I found it interesting how they are all similar in color.

Top left: This is an angel pin I made with a wooden body and shrink plastic wings.
Top right: Ceramic and I find her skirt seems to mimic a heart upside down.

Center left: I like the movement in her skirt as well.

Bottom left: Is a votive holder from Party Lite.  It is about 8 inches tall and has matte and shiny surfaces. I've switched from lit candles to battery powered and for scent I bought a wax warmer which is safer.

Bottom right: The angel is from the Willow Tree collection named "Friendship is the greatest gift of all".

How To: Alcohol Ink Background Printing

Here's another day where I am stretching myself to try new techniques I've not done before.  I wanted a vibrant colored background for one particular card I have in mind.
  
Here, I used Ranger Tim Holtz Alcohol inks in Sailboat Blue, Sunshine Yellow and Citrus Green. You need a non porous surface to create your background on before you print it.  I used a clear acrylic plate which I have had forever. Finally came in handy.  I wet the acrylic with alcohol then put ink drops on and tried to move it around with a straw. That makes it dry faster. I did reapply alcohol to the plate and pressed my paper again if I was not happy with the print.  This tended to spread the ink already on the paper somewhat, which generally is what I wanted.  I used 4x6 glossy photo paper which I picked up at the second hand store for a song.

I made 16 sheets with 3 different color combinations.  The others were Purple Twilight, Watermelon, and Sunset Orange - this combo was way too warm and red.  They did not turn out as great as these. The other combo is: Stream Blue, Wild Plum, and Butterscotch Yellow.  Keep an eye out here as I use these sheets in the next few of weeks.  I think some will end up in card club.

Card - Color Challenge - Blue, Green, Purple

I started with a Stampin Up Always Artichoke card.  I color printed the Joy greeting with a digi from the Eventful Year stamp set in Marina Mist.  I then stamped the Evergreen from the Lovely as a Tree stamp set in AA. I adhered this layer to the card front.  I added small ribbon flags in the upper left hand corner in MM, AA and Elegant Eggplant.  These are held in place with tiny white brads.

Submitting this card to these challenges:

Clean & Simple Color & Sketches #114 Challenge.

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - Anything goes

Card - SC99 Sketch Challenge

I started with a Stampin Up Elegant Eggplant card.  I stamped a piece of Whisper White with the two of the stamps from the Oh, So Lovely set. The background in Always Artichoke and the flower in Eggplant.  This was adhered to the card front. I then cut small banners from AA and Baja Breeze and layered them in the top left hand corner. I stamped a strip of BB with the Damask from the Background Builder set in Eggplant.  I then cut the strip in half and mounted the strips on the top and bottom of the card with 3D foam tape.





I'm submitting this card to the Stampin Celebration SC99 Sketch Challenge.

Card - St. Patrick's Day HB

Here's the second card for the March 17th birthday.  I started with strips of green card stock which I played with until I found some that worked together.  I chose some wider and some narrower. I found a card that worked with the colors of green in the strips then I designed and color printed printed the greeting adding the small shamrock to the right.  I cut the flag ends with my square punch. I laid them out and tape them together on the back and then trimmed the top ends. The banners were then adhered to the greeting layer leaving room for the ribbon. I added dark green seam binding over the top of the banners then tied another piece in a knot. This was then adhered to the green card front.

Card - St. Patrick's Day Birthday

I made these two cards for a friend who requested special cards for a relative that celebrates her birthday on March 17th.  I started with the Spellbinder A2 Ribbon Threader die which cut some DSP by Echo Park - For the Record2 - Damask - this is the flip side.  It gave me some illusion of movement with it's diagonal lines.  I trimmed the holes at the bottom of the die which here is the right hand side.  I then found this wonderful soft green image of a shamrock wreath to which I added the greeting then color printed it.  I added notches on the corners with a punch.  I had some mint colored seam binding which was too clear a color for the rest of the card so I colored it with Tim Holtz Bundled Sage Distress Stain to give it some warmth in color.  I ran one length through the slots and taped the ends to the back.  Then, I pulled a second piece through behind the first one and tied a nice soft bow.  I found a card in the coordinating green but it still needed something.  I decided to add a layer of DSP by Basic Grey - Porcelain - Chintz which supported the warm greens in the rest of the card.  This layer was adhered to the card, then the ribbon threader then the wreath was added with 3D foam tape.

Card - SU Color Challenge

I started with a card in Stampin Up Tangerine Tango.  I stamped a Whisper White layer with one of the Itty Bitty Backgrounds in TT and Summer Sun.  I then created banners in SS, Groovy Guave and TT.  I flagged then ends with my 5/8" square punch.  By placing a dot in the centre of the strip it's quite easy to align evenly. I stamped the GG banner with one of the stamps from the Sale-a-Bration set named Simply Wonderful.  I then stamped the flower from the In the Spotlight stamp set in SS on white.  Then another in TT.  I layered these flowers yellow on orange.  This accent was then adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape.

I'm submitting it to Fab Friday 59 Challenge which is Hello Honey, Calypso Coral, Blushing Bride.   I have substituted the colors as indicated in my post above.

Card - Get Well Umbrella

I made this card for a friend who had knee surgery recently and is at home recuperating.

I just love this color combination.

I cut the umbrella with the Cricut and the Tie the Knot cartridge at 3.5".  I cut one from grey card stock and one from the yellow designer paper.  I cut the finial, the handle and the tips off the yellow one then glued it onto the grey one aligning the edges carefully.  I designed and printed the grey greeting layer then trimmed it close to the border. I glued the greeting layer to the matching card then glued the umbrella to the card front.

Submitting the card to Bitten by the Bug - National Old Stuff Day Challenge.  To use a cartridge we have not used in a long time.  This is my second time using it and the last time was over a year ago.

Card - Friend - Washi Tape

I made these cards for my monthly card exchange.

I started with a white layer 3.75 x 5.00 inches.  I stamped the village scene from Stampendous in black near the bottom edge.  I chalked the image. I stamped the word Friends with a clear stamp and VersaFine Onyx ink. I chose 3 Washi tapes, different in width, color and pattern. I started with the widest, turquoise dots on the outside followed by yellow chevron then black stripes to repeat the black in the stamping. I ripped their ends to be irregular and brought the other ends to the back of the layer. I layered it on a piece of yellow card stock at bit larger then onto a black card.

I'm submitting the card to City Crafter Challenge - Washi Tape Challenge 251 which I discovered through Darnell at djkarkkreations.  She is the guest there for March.

Here's my second card. I thought I would change it up a bit. I chose grey dots, pink floral and yellow stripes for the Washi tapes.  I water colored the image this time but it really warped my paper so I had to steam and press to get it flattened.

Monday Mosaic #30

Another visit to the Muttart Conservatory.  It is refreshing to see flowers blooming in the midst of winter.

I visited all four pyramids. The feature is still set up for Chinese New Year - the year of the Ram. That is where the water fountain was set up.  From a bit of research it is a steel cup cascading water fountain.  There was a pink/purple peace lily. In the tropical pyramid the waterfall ends in a pond where I found 3 large Koi fish. There were many orchids, the one I chose is the boat orchid (cymbidium). The small white and blue and the lavender I did not take note of their names. After checking Veronica's post this week I was reminded that the lavender flower is a Lenten Rose. The small white and blue still don't know it's name.

Submitting this to Mosaic Monday at Lavender Cottage.

Christmas Card Challenge - March - Gingerbread Stitching Plaid

Here's my card for this month's challenge. I chose to use all 3 elements which are gingerbread, stitching, and plaid.  I started with the DSP from My Mind's Eye - Good Day Sunshine - Bold Dots Paper.  This is the back side of the paper. I chose a teal card to coordinate with the paper. I added a piece of turquoise organza ribbon placed just to left of center and the ends were taped to the back.  This layer was adhered to the card front. The gingerbread man was cut with the Sizzix Gingerbread man die in a caramel card stock. I usual like dark brown for this die so I'm stretching my comfort zone.  I added stitching around the man and the hearts on his belly with a dark brown marker. I placed the same teal card stock behind the eyes and the hearts.  I knotted a caramel seam binding around his neck.  I stamped the greeting from Lil Inker Designs with teal ink on the same caramel card stock and placed a piece of the same teal card stock behind leaving a small border. The greeting was adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape. I glued the gingerbread man to the card front.