Heat embossed Natures Walk card

I got up at 0 crack hundred hours yesterday morning to check out the new Less is More challenge and was very excited to find that Mandi and Chrissie are asking for embossed (dry or heat embossed) one-layer cards. It gave me the perfect opportunity to do something I've been wanting to do for a little while - come and have a look:

I know I'm not the first to put a bird into the Nature's Walk cage but I've been wanting to do it ever since I first saw the set in the mini catalogue. The cage is 'hung' from a line of piercing so that it doesn't just float about aimlessly in the middle of the card front! Before I go on, can I just apologise for the photos - I kept trying different positions and lights...!

I've recently discovered the Confetti card stock and I'm using it in Cream for this card base. It's a gorgeous, firm card stock flecked with blue and grey and I love the extra dimension it gives to a one-layer card. I stamped the bird in Tempting Turquoise to tie in with the flecks and to stand out against the gold embossed cage.

I like my sentiments to form a group with my focal image, so I changed this one slightly using my stamp-a-majig. The 'of you' is stamped first in Basic Black, then 'thinking' was added in versamark ink and embossed with gold embossing powder. With hindsight, I should have given the black ink a quick blast with my heat tool before stamping the versamark word as it's picked up some of the embossing powder too. It would have looked better with more of a contrast between the words.

Here's how to make this card:

• Take an A5 piece of Confetti Cream card stock. Score and fold it in half to make a card base.
• Stamp the cage in versamark ink and sprinkle with gold embossing powder. Heat until the image turns glossy.
• Colour the bird from Silhouette Sentiments with a Tempting Turquoise marker. Stamp it onto the cage using a stamp-a-majig to position it where you want it - the embossing will resist the ink and it will look as if you stamped the bird before the cage.
• Use the mat pack and a piercing tool to create the thread the cage hangs from. 
• Stamp the sentiment as described.
• Finish the card with a self-adhesive rhinestone at the top of the cage.

Supplies
Stamps: Natures Walk, Sincere Salutations, Silhouette Sentiments (hostess set)
Ink: Basic Black, versamark, markers
Card stock: Confetti Cream
Other: Basic rhinestones, gold embossing powder

Actually, although I've been wanting to make this card for ages, I don't like the idea of birds in cages. But I do think this card would be good to offer support to a friend in a tight spot.

Hope you're having a great weekend. I'm having some lovely friends over for Sunday lunch today so I'd better get cooking or they'll be hungry friends! Thank you for coming to see me and I'll look forward to returning your visit. See you soon,