Feathered Cardinal Shaker Ornament

Hi my friends, I'm thrilled to be sharing a Christmas card with a removeable Shaker Ornament I made with the Tim Holtz/Sizzix DieCember Exclusive Feathered Cardinal Thinlits and the good news is, as part of the DieCember celebrations over at Simon Says Stamp, this die is a free gift to you, while supplies last, when you purchase any Tim Holtz Brand product. You don't need me to tell you that you may have to run, not walk, if you want to add this to your Tim Holtz Thinlits collection and you can check lots of inspiration using this die over at Simon Says Stamp Blog HERE

I fixed two different sized Nesting Circle dies together with parcel tape to create a circle frame die. I die-cut 12 circles from Distress Watercolor and white card to create the shaker ornament. I layered up 6 circles using Distress Collage Medium, fixed thread in place to create a hanger and added the remaining circles. I prefer this method of creating a shaker rather than faffing around trying to fit foam adhesive around a circle and, also there are no sticky areas around the edge for your shaker elements to attach to. I added a selection of sequins and beads from Sizzix, a dusting of Distress Rock Candy Glitter and fixed a circle of acetate on top, die-cut with the bigger circle die. At this point, I wasn't happy with the paper I had added as the background for the shaker, so I flipped the ornament over and carefully removed that paper. I die-cut another circle and circle frame from Distress Watercolor card, dipped into a puddle of Speckled Egg Distress Oxide ink, splattered with Barn Door Distress Ink, added shading around the edges with Distress Barn Door Distress ink using a mini round blending tool and fixed to the front and back of the ornament using Distress Collage Medium Matte.

I die-cut foliage from Distress Watercolor card using Tim Holtz/Sizzix Large Funky Festive Thinlits because the star of the show needed something to stand on.

I die-cut the Feathered Cardinal from Distress Watercolor card and coloured and shaded each section with Aged Mahogany and Barn Door Distress Inks. I coloured his feet and the section behind his eye and his eye with Black Soot and Wild Honey Distress Markers. I added splatters of white gouache and fixed him to the ornament with Distress Collage Medium adding Sizzix Foam Adhesive on the section of his body that was on the acetate.

I fixed Tim Holtz/Sizzx Adhesive sheet to Distress Watercolor card, coloured with Barn Door Distress ink, die-cut the letters using Tim Holtz/Sizzix Tiny Type Upper Thinlits and fixed to the rim of the ornament. 

I trimmed a panel of Idea-ology Christmas paper to be slightly smaller than the card blank, stamped the snowflake image randomly on the panel using one of my favourite snowflake stamp sets ever, Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous Weathered Winter, inked with Distress Embossing ink, sprinkled with Ranger Superfine White Embossing Powder and heat set.

I stamped the script image from Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous Dearly Departed with Barn Door Distress Archival ink, a great "fill in the blanker" to quote my adorable Professor.

I fixed the shaker ornament to the panel by tucking the hanger thread behind the paper held in place with an Idea-ology Tiny Clip and added a small piece of low tack tape behind the ornament.

I finished by adding Distress Mica Flakes to add a touch of sparkle, Idea-ology Christmas Label Tape and matted the panel on to a white card blank.

I'll be back soon to share the other card I made with the Feathered Cardinal Thinlits, in the meantime have fun with your Christmas makes.

Hugs Kath xxx