Little Muzzy Takes a Snooze!

Marie Gamber, Artistic Guide

Finished Card Size: 4.25 in x 5.5 in

It's time to play with the wonderful colors of spring.   I had to smile when I saw the theme -   I live in the country and the turkeys, rabbits, mice and all the other little creatures are  out and about playing.   How could I ignore pulling out this cute little House Mouse image!

Supplies
Stamps:
Muzzy: Flower Bed  (House-Mouse Designs)
Paper :
Pure Luxury Ivory cardstock 120# (GKD)
Pure Luxury White 80# (GKD)
Pure Luxury Fresh Asparagus (GKD)
Cryogen (Curious Metallic)
Light-weight yellow and green paper from my stash for Rose and leaves
Ink:
Copic alcohol ink markers (.too)
Memento Dandelion (Tsukineko)
Memento Tangelo (Tsukineko)
Other:
Acrylic stamping block
Paper trimmer
Scissors
Any embossing and die cut machine.  I used Tim Holtz Vagabond (Sizzix)
Cuttlebug Musical Flourish embossing folder (Provo Craft)
Nestabilities Petite Small/Large Oval (Spellbinders)
Iron and  clean white scrap paper for making sandwich
Wax paper
2 pearls from my stash. (One for the inside of the rose and one for the top of the card.
Quilling Tool
Tattered Pinecone Die  (Tim Holtz)

^Directions:
Measurements:
Card size 4.25in. X  5.5 in.
Cut 11 in x 8.5 in. paper in landscape orientation at 5.5 in.   This will make two cards.
Score and fold with a bone folder at 4.25 in.  This will fit a standard A2 envelope. Tip:  Place a piece of paper over the top of your project before running a bone folder over the fold. This will help prevent unwanted marks on your project.
Base layer 5.25 in. x 4 in
Top layer 5 in. X 3.75 in.

1. Stamp the image onto Cryogen paper.  Identify your light source.  
2. Color  the Tulip with YG21 and YG41.  
3. Add YG21 and YG41 to areas that will be in shadow.
4. Darken the deepest of the shadow area with W3.  Color over again with YG11 and blend out with your lighter colors using a flicking motion toward the highlight. 
5. Color the stem and grass with YG63, YG40, YG28.  I used a dotting technique for the grass because the digital has black dots.  I added some C3 dots and blended with with G40.  Dotting various colors you have used in your image and blending with the lightest of color or Colorless Blender will produce a "Faux Watercolor" effect with Copics. Little Muzzie was colored with E000, E02, E11, R20 and E40, E42 and E44.
6. Cut the image with a Petite Oval  Nestabilities die by Spellbinder.  Secure the image to the nest abilities with a sticky note or painters tape.  
7. Cut wax paper to fit an embossing folder.  Emboss the wax paper with you embossing machine.  Place the wax paper over the image and sandwich between absorbent paper.  Place something on your workspace for protection.  Iron the sandwich with a "dry" iron.  Sponge the top of the background  paper with your Memento ink pads using a jumbo sponge dauber.  Sponge without blending the colors so the variegated colors will be visible.   Continue to sponge until you get the desired effect.  Do not be afraid of getting it too dark.   The more you sponge, the more your embossed pattern will show and create a gorgeous background layer.   
8. Adhere the layers of your card.  Embellish with hand crafted roses and leaves or  spring colored flowers of your choice.  

Little Muzzy Takes a SNOOZE!  

I enjoy creating cards and I enjoy sharing my techniques even more!  I hope you liked this tutorial.   Have a wonderful month and I look forward to sharing another card or project with you next month!

Hugs,

Marie