Thinking of You Card 2.0

I needed a masculine card for a family member, so he would know we were thinking of him on his surgery date.  I found this dog; I call him Fergus.  He's from the stamp called  A Bow Wow A1126.  He's a Scottie so I wanted to make him plaid.  I picked Victory paper which has a plaid and is a very masculine mix, and I love the palette.

First I played around with Fergus, stamping him on the pattern to see what I liked.  My favorite combination had the eye and nose and tongue on light areas and I was able to color in the tongue and nose.

My first choice was the lower right.

I wanted to color in the tongue and the nose on my Fergus.  In order for it to match (because I can, and that's the beauty of Close to My Heart), I squeezed my ink lid into my ink - with the ink closed - until some of the ink was transferred onto the lid.  Then I used my water brush (you could do this with a paint brush and water, but I get a kick out of the water brush every time!!) to pick up some of the ink.  I swished it on my scrap paper (which is getting dirty and in need of changing) so it's not too dark, then painted in the tongue.  To wash the water brush, just swish it on the scrap paper till it's clean.

I used Cranberry for the tongue and Chocolate for the nose, and a light Olive wash for some of the collars.  A few of my Ferguses didn't need their noses colored in because the pattern on the paper took care of it.  They turned out nicely as well.

For the square of Barn Red paper, see card below, I added a pattern with second generation* Chocolate ink using the small star pattern and the fleur-de-lis stamp from the Victory Workshop on the Go.  This stamp set isn't available any more, but the Victory paper is still available and I'm sure you could come up with your own pattern!

The top strip of Argyle pattern is a zip strip that comes on one of the Victory papers. The Hello cloud was roughed up with scissors for a distressed look. (When I made subsequent cards I used the edge distresser and it was much easier for me.)    I wrapped Fergus' podium with natural hemp for some texture.  Both Fergus and the podium were popped-up with foam tape for depth.

 Here's the completed envelope from all sides:

My next project was to make a birthday card for a cousin , but I was still enamored with my darling Fergus and wanted to keep making more, when I realized he was also a birthday card!!!  YES!  Another Kallixta Card Challenge completed!!  HA!!!!!  (Hey Dave, We miss you guys!!  Happy Birthday!!)

Lastly, one of my dear Fergies, flipped over and he's Camo on the other side!!!  So, I got out my light box and finished him off.  Does he need a new name now?

Fergus and new friend Tracker!

*A second generation stamp is when you ink the stamp up, first lightly stamp it on scrap paper, then stamp it on your project.

Fergus is a happy scamp.  Hope you like him as much as I do!!

P.S.  The Edge Distresser is in the Idea Book under Accessories and then "Distressing Products".  I kid you not!!  I'm still giggling!!  : D