Leaping Deer Merry Christmas Card - 52 {C}CT Feb Embellishment Challenge

Danielle has set a fab embellishment challenge this week at 52 {C}CT - and the embellishment we want to see on your Christmas cards is felt.

I have a few Hero Arts felt snowflakes left in a package in my stash but I decided not to use them because I wanted to try die cutting my own felt pieces.  So I bought a few different coloured squares of wool blend felt and I tried cutting out flower and leaf shapes which turned out very successfully.  For my Christmas card I chose a bright red felt and the Memory Box Leaping Deer die.  I made a 5 1/4" square Crumb Cake card base and die cut Real Red and Crumb Cake square mat layers.

Having selected the deer die I became concerned about the very delicate antlers but the felt shape die cut beautifully, phew!  I laid the felt piece onto the white CS square and the white looked too stark so before gluing down the deer I stamped a Canvas Stripes background stamp in Crumb Cake ink stamped off once.  I also edged the panel with Crumb Cake ink.  I was extremely careful when gluing the antlers to my CS square, I could tell that a tear could easily happen if I wasn't gentle. Once I'd glued the deer I added a few rhinestones to the antlers and popped up the white square.  I then die cut the Large Scallop border from the red felt, glued that to the side of the card and added the gingham ribbon.  I then inked the sentiment and frame with VersaMark ink, stamped onto Real Red CS, heat embossed with white powder and die cut the tag frame shape.  I added rhinestone jewels to the label and red metal nailheads to the image panel to finish the card front.  

Here's the inside and envelope flap with more background stamping, a sentiment and some red snowflakes.  I had the card sitting out on a shelf waiting to be photographed when our friends Debbie and Mike visited.  Mike said "is that fuzzy felt you've used on that card?"  I was so impressed he could tell that from across the room!

I hope you'll join in with our felt challenge this week at 52 {C}CT, it's a fun embellishment to use.  The other DT members have made fab cards to inspire you so please check out their work before you head off to make your own creations.  I can't wait to visit your blogs to see your warm and fuzzy Christmas cards!

Supplies:
Stamps: 'Merry Christmas from SU! 'Four the Holidays' set, label frame from Hero Arts 'Sending You Love' clear set, Hero Arts 'Joyous Christmas' & 'Canvas Stripes', PSX 'Snowflake Medley'
CS: SU! Crumb Cake, Real Red & Whisper White
Ink: VersaMark, SU! Crumb Cake & Real Red
Tools: Memory Box 'Leaping Deer' die, SU! 'Large Scallop' Framelits border die, Hero Arts 'Small Tag Frame' Framelits die, circle punches, sponge dauber
Embellishments & accessories: Premium Wool Blend Felt from Paper & String, white embossing powder, red metal nailheads, SU! red & white gingham ribbon, Rhinestone Jewels, Dimensionals