This week’s Paper Craft Crew Card Sketch #222 challenge inspired me to use Fun Stampers Journey December Bloom Box stamp set Welcome Wreaths. Here is their card sketch:

I think wreaths are a great way to welcome in the holidays and the FSJ December Bloom Box Welcome Wreaths stamp set is the perfect set to create a welcoming card featuring a wreath. I began this card with an base using FSJ Oatmeal cardstock. The bottom portion of the card has a FSJ Hazelnut Blend mat with a FSJ Cranberry Bliss mat. The Cranberry Bliss mat is stamped with the berry cluster from the stamp set in FSJ Cranberry Bliss ink. I cut a banner out of FSJ Hazelnut Blend cardstcok and cut out a “v” shape in both ends. The entire card was sprinkled with FSJ Dark Roast silk.

The wreath was a “work in progress while creating”. LOL You know what I mean. You start off with one idea of how to make something unique; and, well, . . it kinda doesn’t turn out like you expected . . . .so, you begin experimenting with different ways to create something beautiful out of a …. pig’s ear …. lol.  I started off with the branch stamp and using FSJ Lemon Grass ink went about stamping the curved branch into a wreath shape (o.k. a circle). This took multiple turns around the circle because I wanted a full and bushy wreath. When I was finished stamping, I thought the wreath look flat and dull. Hmmm,….. what can I do to make it “pop”. I thought, why not fussy cut lots of branches and layer them onto the flat, dull base. Oh, yes I did! And, I think it created the look I was trying to get from the beginning. I must say, it really didn’t take that long to fussy cut the branches (it really didn’t and it was so worth it). I stamped the small pine cones in FSJ Hazelnut Blend and colored them with my FSJ Color Burst Pencils and fussy cut them out. I stamped the berry cluster with FSJ Cranberry Bliss (all of this was stamped onto FSJ Whip Cream cardstock). I fussy cut the berries out as well. No, booing and hissing from the peanut gallery – it’s those little extra steps that make a super cute card. I took some FSJ Cocoa Gingham Ribbon and made a double bow and adhered everything onto the wreath with glue dots. I then put the card together using craft glue and I popped out the wreath and banner using Journey Foam Squares (medium). For a little extra touch, I flicked Dark Roast silk onto the wreath. Last but not least, I added a little bling by placing some dark chocolate sequins onto the card.

Here is the finished card:

Supplies: All product used can be ordered from my FSJ website. Click here. Note: Everything is Fun Stampers Journey except as noted.

December Bloom Box – Welcome Wreaths
Cardstock: Cranberry Bliss, Whip Cream, Oatmeal Cookie, Hazelnut Blend
Ink: Hazelnut Blend, Cranberry Bliss, Lemon Grass
Coloring: Color Burst Pencils
Silk: Dark Roast
Ribbon: Cocoa Gingham Ribbon
Miscellaneous: Sequins (not FSJ)