A very good friend of ours has asked me to make some Christmas cards for him. He is from South Africa and now lives in Slovakia where he also has family.
He loves my cards and said there is nothing like them in Slovakia. He said if I could incorporate an African vibe into his cards that would be even better. Immediately thought of this image Merle from Beccy's Place that I had been considering purchasing for some time as I adore giraffes. We actually visited SA with Jean some years ago and went on safari to Krueger National Park. We saw giraffes in the wild and I cried my eyes out with joy. It was a very special experience and a trip I will never ever forget for so many reasons.
I have coloured the image with Promarkers and added a silver gel pen for accents to the star and lights. I used a brown pencil to add some shading to the giraffe patches. I then added some iridescent Stickles glitter glue to the lights, baubles, star, stocking and to the twinkle part of the sentiment.
The layout of the card has been inspired by the latest sketch from the Stella Says Sketch challenge. I had to adapt it a little to suit how tall the image is.
I used a sheet of A4 white card for the base and added some dark red spotty paper. The giraffe print paper is from a paper pack I got from Poundland years ago. The patterned red and gold strip has been recycled from an old Christmas card. The plain card stock that has been used for matting and layering are all from my scraps.
Card Details -
Size – A5
Digital Image & Sentiment – Merle by Beccy’s Place
Colouring Medium – Promarkers. Silver gel pen, shading with Arteza pencils
Embellishments – Stickles glitter glue
- Allsorts - #595 Celebration Time
- All Fun Challenges - #18 Anything Goes
- As You Like It - 263 Anything Goes
- Beccy’s Place Challenges - Anything Goes With A Store Image
- CD Sunday Plus - #47 Anything Goes
- Colour Crazy Challenge - #42 Anything Goes
- Crafting Happiness - #69 Anything Goes
- Crafty Hazelnut’s Christmas Challenge - #513 Anything Goes
- Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper - Anything Goes with Patterned Paper
- Crafty Sentiments Designs - Anything Goes
- Creative Moments - #201 Always Anything Goes
- Creative Sketchy Girls - #53 Christmas/Winter
- Cute Card Thursday - #658 Sparkles
- Digi Choosday - #43 Anything Goes
- Gem of A Challenge - #22 Anything Goes
- House That Stamps Built - #O2820 Anything Goes
- I Love Promarkers - #422 Anything Goes
- Krafty Chicks - #531 Anything Goes
- Penny’s Challenge - #483 Anything Goes
- Polkadoodles - #43 Anything Goes
- QKR Stampede - #406 Anything Goes
- Scribbles Designs Challenge - #93 Feature a Creature
- Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Anything Goes
- Sisterhood of Crafters - Use gold on your project
- Stella Says Sketch - #817 Sketch for Layout
- We Love 2 Create - #11 Anything Goes
What a super Christmas card, love the non-traditional look of the card. Thank you so much for entering it in Polkadoodles week #43 ATG challenge!😊
ReplyDeleteSybil DT
https://sybilb28.blogspot.com/
Sounds like you really ricked the boxes for this order Mandy and what a super name for that fun Giraffe and the sentiment couldn't be more perfect.
ReplyDeleteLovely to see you at Allsorts Celebrations theme this week, thanks so much for joining in.
B x
A fun card. Thanks for joining Aud Sentiments challenge. Elaine
ReplyDeleteWhat a cute card! Thanks for playing along with us at Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas Challenge.
ReplyDeleteDT Stacey
www.butterflycreations.blog
Fabulous image love all the papers and layout
ReplyDeletecarol x
This is so cute and definitely fits his request.
ReplyDeleteCheryl (SheStamps)
Visit my blog - She Stamps
Brilliant card . Thank you for joining us at I♥Promarkers challenge. Good luck Ginny DT for I ♥promarkers
ReplyDeleteMy Blog As I do Rodos
Super fun! Thank you for entering our challenge at Allsorts this week.
ReplyDeleteJust perfect for the Challenge!
ReplyDeleteGreat project!
We are so happy that you have shared this with us here at Colour Crazy.
Stay safe and well.
Good luck and we hope you will come back again! Jackie DT Member xxx
This is brilliant!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing at both Creative Moments and I Love Promarkers,
Hugz Tinz
Ooh you have also shared this at Aud Sentiments, but I cannot find a backlink (and the backlink for I Love Prmarkers takes you to A Bit More Time to Craft blog page instead :D)
ReplyDeleteHugz Tinz
Tina thanks very much for letting me know about the wrong link. This has now been amended.
DeleteHi Mandy! I popped over to tell you how much I appreciated your sweet and personalized comment on my blog, even tho you were DT'ing. I just now have realized how many blog hangouts, digi stamp vendors and challenges we have in common, lol. I'll be keeping me eyes open more now! I too own Merle and thank you for a lovely inspiration sample! This is divine and should hit the spot with your friend. Your coloring is enviable as well. XXO
ReplyDeleteVery nice work thanks for sharing!!!
ReplyDeleteIt's always overwhelming when you experience something you've only ever dreamed about Mandy, I'm so pleased you were able to see giraffes in the wild... it sounds like the trip of a lifetime!
ReplyDeleteI love the card you've made for your friend and I'm sure he's going to enjoy sending them out. The colours are bright and happy and work perfectly with Merle! Fabulous!
Cheers,
Beccy
Oh Mandy, this is so darn cute!!! Thanks so much for joining in the fun at our Sisterhood of Crafters challenge! Good Luck and we hope you’ll come back often.
ReplyDeleteDarlene
SISTERHOOD OF CRAFTERS
DAR’S CRAFTY CREATIONS
Please stop in for a visit!
Super cute!! Great patterns to go along with this adorable giraffe! Thanks for playing with The House That Stamps Built.
ReplyDeleteHi Mandy! I bet your friend will be very pleased with this card! The giraffe is adorable, especially with that stocking on his foot, LOL! Thanks for sharing with us at the Colour Crazy challenge! :)
ReplyDelete~Marie B -DT
Stunning card, superbly created and love your Gold added. Many thanks for joining us in our current challenge at The Sisterhood Of Crafters Challenge.. good luck with your lovely entry.[aNNie design team member for The Sisterhood of Crafters Challenges
ReplyDeletehttps://thejourneyisthestarthere.blogspot.com/{My Blog}
A great card and your friend will be thrilled. I have often seen the giraffe on Beccy's site and it always brings a smile.
ReplyDeleteCarol xx
CD Sunday plus DT
Love your card with that African vibe...you have used pretty papers.
ReplyDeleteThanks for joining Stella Says Sketch.
xxx Margreet DT
That makes a change from a Christmas tree. Such a fun image. Thank you for sharing with us.
ReplyDeleteJocelyn x
CD Sunday Plus DT
A very unusual Christmas card but I love it!
ReplyDeletePamela
CD Sunday Plus DT.
I love this unusual christmas image, a nice change from a christmas tree, I love it
ReplyDeleteThank you for joining us
Margaret
CD Sunday plus DT
Fun card.
ReplyDeleteThanks for joining us at Craftyhazelnuts patterned paper challenge blog.
Happy crafting!
Catherine x DT
What a great card, your friend will be thrilled.
ReplyDeleteI too love giraffes. I've never been on safari but can imagine it is an amazing experience.
Thanks for continuing to support our challenges.
Jo
Cd Sunday Plus DT
Such a cute card! I just love your giraffe. Thank you for joining us at the Sisterhood of Crafters Challenge and hope you come back soon.
ReplyDeleteAnother awesome card, makes me smile, thanks for playing our challenge at Krafty Chicks
ReplyDeleteLeanne DT/KC
Lovely card. Thank you for joining the color crazy challenge and Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas challenge. Hope to see you again next time.
ReplyDeleteAw I love it! My hubby is from South Africa and we have many giraffes around our home (well not real ones!), even one with spare toilet rolls on in the bathroom! Your card is so fun. Thanks so much for entering the Aud Sentiments Challenge. Keep safe
ReplyDeleteCrafty hugs
Jenny (Ginger Ninja Crafts)
Wat een prachtige kaart, dank je wel voor het meedoen aan de Creative Sketchy Girls Challenge.
ReplyDeleteGroetjes Ilonka DT
Cute twinkly card with giraffe. Loved it. Thank you for joining us at Penny’s Paper Crafty Challenge Blog. DT Sirisha
ReplyDeleteFabulous card, I am a big fan of Merle and love that you have combined him with matching paper. Thanks for sharing your creation with us at Scribbles Designs, we hope to see you back again.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful card,thanks for joining ❤️
ReplyDelete