Vintage Christmas Card

I'm calling this a vintage Christmas card, but it's actually a hanging decoration that I could write a message on the back and send to a friend .. .. and I just think of it as vintage in style because of the colour scheme of soft brown and ivory and the style of the stamp.

I've been drawn to the Viva Decor My Paper World sheets of silicone stamps as a way of challenging myself to stamp in a new style without spending a fortune.  Cuddly Buddly has the best collection and I have a wish list for more!  Most of the images don't need colouring so in theory should make for quicker creations, unfortunately the stamping was rather stressful.  This image isn't a particularly good one with dimples in the silicone on the bird bodies, then there was the issue of ink and paper.  Some while ago I saw a post on Splitcoast Stampers that recommended using chalk ink with this type of stamp and I must say it was the best giving me a clear edged image, although I had to do some careful inking and pressing to get a good enough impression of the birds due to the dimples.  I used Versamagic chalk ink in gingerbread to stamp the birds, then Sahara sand to ink around the edges and also to highlight the embossed areas on my die cuts.

Here's a closer view.  I've added the pearls with my ivory Wacco pearl maker pen, and the ivory organza ribbon for the double bow and hanging loop.  Other than that everything else is just card and ink to create the layers I've fixed together with 3d foam tape.  My die cuts are by Marianne Design and the main pieces were designed by Petra van Dam:

Petra's Squares - LR0234
Petra's Large Ovals - LR0240
Holly sprays - LR0244

There's an anything goes challenge at the Die Cuttin' Divas blog so I will enter my festive decoration with them.  Crafty Creations would like to see something made by yourself so I can enter my Christmas decoration with them too.

Well, it will soon be lunch time and as Jason has laid most of the kitchen floor tiles for me, it's now my turn to get down and get dirty with the grout!  I wonder if there's a crafty use for left over grout .. .. ..?