Painted Pheasant Card

While visiting Grand Manan Island this summer, we were lucky to see an entire family of the spectacularly coloured Ring-Necked Pheasants. The papa, mama, and baby were simply walking in someone's side yard, enjoying the sunshine. What a wonderful sighting!

Today's card spotlights one of these beautiful creatures, and it's also the Card of the Month for September:

Featuring the Painted Pheasant stamp set, this card's variegated colours on the bird are made with Regals Stampin' Write Markers, colouring directly onto the stamp. Starting with the lighter-coloured markers and then overlapping with the darker ones, I used Crushed Curry, Pumpkin Pie, and Cajun Craze for the body. I finished off with Shaded Spruce for the head and eye, then stamped the image on Basic White Cardstock. After the image had dried completely (I waited a few minutes), I filled in the face with a Dark Poppy Parade Stampin' Blend. 

A note about markers: I chose the Stampin' Blend for the face so it would not pill or leave brush strokes on the paper. However, it's not recommended that Stampin' Blends be used directly on stamps, as their alcohol base can degrade the stamp material. By contrast, Stampin' Write Markers are made to be used on stamps.

To assemble the card, I cut a 4" x 5 1/4" piece of Cajun Craze Cardstock and embossed it with the Leaf Fall 3D Embossing Folder (requires a standard-sized Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine). Then I layered onto it a 1 3/4" x 5 1/4" rectangle of Crushed Curry and a 1 1/2" x 5 1/4" rectangle of Rustic Harvest DSP. I topped it off with a maple leaf label (stamped in Shaded Spruce) and Amber Gems from the Leaf Label & Amber Gem Combo Pack. Then I added a bow from Gold & Vanilla Satin-Edged Ribbon, before attaching the whole card mat to a Pumpkin Pie 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" card base.

Here are some alternatives, using different coordinating colours:

For a full supply list, click here. It can be added to your shopping cart with a single click and edit as needed.

If you place an order with me, you'll receive one of the pheasant cards above as the FREE handmade card of the month! And don't miss the Weekly Deals that end today - or my Flash Special, which means you receive FREE 18 sheets of 4" x 6" patterned paper when you place any order or register for a class by the end of today, 28 September.  

Last but definitely not least, I invite you to participate in my paper-crafting fundraiser, to donate toward the Red Cross's hurricane relief efforts in the Atlantic Provinces. Click here for details.

And I warmly invite you to follow my blog:

Have a wonderfully crafty day - and keep your eyes open for wildlife sightings, friends!