A square card

Can you believe how fast time is moving? These last few weeks seem to move like lightning! Between shopping and being crafty - well I just can't believe we're so far into December already. It must be true that the older you get, the faster time moves! lol

I do have some Christmas cards to share, but not today! (read: I can't find the bloody camera) I usually make cards in the 'regular' size. Mostly because it's easy to cut c/s, or if you're even more crunched for time, buy the appropriate size. Today I used a premade blank that measures about 5 1/2 inches square. I think I've had the package for at least five years... what does that tell you? (HA! It should tell you that I have *way, way too much paper*.)

The panel itself was just me slapping some color on some white cardstock. All Distress Inks (yum, I do love me some distress inks!) in greens, blues, purple and orange over a base of the new VersaMark Dazzle Frost. The VM gave it a nice shimmer, very understated. [ed. note: I have bought the VM champagne color also but haven't tried it yet. I didn't really see any difference between using this VM or another shimmery ink like Opalites. I don't think I'd buy it again, I have too many other inks that basically do the same thing.] I liked the background enough that I didn't want to cut it down to fit on a regular card - hence the square size.

First I stamped the birds in a platinum color, but you really couldn't see them. So I over stamped the birds (and the flourish) in Brilliance Lightning Black which makes them look a lot closer to the color of the base IRL.

Here you can get a closer look at those bead type thingys (yes, very technical!). I'm not sure who makes them, I know I bought several packs at Hobby Lobby when they were on clearance. I *think* they might have originally be for decorating tee shirts? They aren't black, more of a hematite color, which bridged the gap between the c/s and the deep black of that sticky back felt swirl.

And, can I just say, that sticky back felt is the very *devil* to work with?! Trust me, that stuff STICKS. To everything. Including your hands while you're trying (really, really hard) to keep your temper! lol It's just as well that I didn't buy a whole lot of it... dh would have to bring the jaws of life and an enormous bottle of Undo to get me free. Wouldn't that be a pretty picture! :D

Thanks for taking time out of your day to visit me, I truly appreciate it!

Recipe: square card base from Stampendous, Distress Inks in Shabby Shutters, Broken China, Faded Jeans, Dusty Concord, Dried Marigold, VersaMark Dazzle in Frost, Brilliance Lightning Black & Graphite Black, sticky back felt from Queen & Co, beady thingys from Hobby Lobby, gorgeous Flourish from Katzelkraft, Birds from Inkadinkado, sentiment from Hampton Art, Glossy Accents