Just Add a Christmas Elf...

I have to say right up front....I didn't read the instructions for the Just Add Ink #43 Challenge - Just Add Christmas very carefully at all! I made this card (that I am about to show you) yesterday, and then last night when I was browsing the Just Add Ink homepage I noticed that they say ' we can't wait to see what fantastic designs you are mass producing'. Can I just say here and now....neither THIS card, nor the one I posted the day before yesterday...will be mass produced. I don't have that many years left in me ;-). Sorry for not reading the instructions fully girls!

The next thing that I need to say is that I owe a vote of thanks firstly to Ros Davidson for the inspiration for this card. When I saw her creation here, I knew I had to CASE the elf design, and as Ros mentions in her post, thanks must also go to the fabulous Marie Shaughnessy for the design and full instructions for making the elf, which you can find here. While you are visiting, check out the rest of Marie's awesome punch art here, the girl is absolutely amazing! I have saved many of them to my TO BE CASED folder! Thanks so much for the inspiration Ros and Marie!

Now for my card...and yes, this one took an age to make and was incredibly fiddly, but I love the end result so much I don't care! Giving it away is going to be the hardest part...

List of Ingredients:

Cardstock: Real Red (Textured and Plain), Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Old Olive, Kiwi Kiss, Blush Blossom, Basic Black and Brushed Gold (all SU)
Ink: Chocolate Chip Classic Ink, Old Olive Classic Ink and Blush Blossom Classic Ink (all SU)
Stamps: Merry & Bright (PTI)
Punches: 1 3/8" Circle, Two-Step owl, Oval Extra Large, Oval Medium, Word Window, Butterfly, Curly Label, Boho Blossoms, Paper Piecing (retired), 1/ 1/4" Square, Eyelet Border, 5-Petal Flower, Small Star (retired) and Scallop Oval (all SU)
Accessories: Dashing DSP (retired SU), White Gel Pen (Misc), Gold Cord (retired SU), Real Red Brads (SU), White Liquid Applique, Dazzling Diamonds (SU), Crystal Effects (SU), Basic Black Marker (SU), Stampin' Sponges (SU), Sticky Strip (SU), Mini Glue Dots (SU) and Tombow Mono Adhesive (Penwa).

Marie's design called for the Ornament punch for the head...which I don't own, so I used the 1 3/8" Circle instead. Marie also used the Modern label punch for the elfs pants, but I don't have that either, so I used the retired Paper Piecing punch. I also used the Boho Blossoms for the his hands, instead of the small circle punch like Marie did. I used the medium and large circles from the Two-Step Owl punch for his eyes and nose.

I love that you can almost always find another punch to give a similar effect if you don't have the exact punch that someone else has used...this said, I MUST get myself a Modern label punch soon. I think I NEED it!

I will also add that you can't see the Liquid Applique on my elf anymore. I put it on his hat and pompom, but I think my tube had been open for too long (two years) because it never went puffy, it just dried smooth like gloss paint. So I added Crystal Effects over the top and sprinkled Dazzling Diamonds over that. Problem fixed!

Well, that's about it I think. Like I said, this one took forever, but I love his adorable little face so much! I've forgotten to blush up his cheeks...but you get that!

Have a great day everyone, and thanks so much for stopping by at my blog.

(Blogged to: Jingle Bells - Diana Krall and Happy Holiday - Bing Crosby).