MCC homework ...

... my tone-on-tone green card is now complete!!!  You may recall that I posted some tone-on-tone backgrounds which I'd done as part of my MCC course homework.  I've already made cards with the other backgrounds, but was struggling at bit with the green one.  Then today I knew what to do.

Stamps:  Waltzingmouse Stamps - Nutcracker Sweet, Seasons of Love - Tags, Very Vintage Labels No 4; Stampin' Up! - Baroque
Inks:  Memento - Tuxedo Black; Versafine - Onyx Black; Distress - Dusty Concord, Peeled Paint, Shabby Shutters
Pens:  Promarkers - Prussian, Bluebell, Lilac, Primrose, Lemon, Almond, Cinnamon, Tan; Sakura Stardust - Golden Star #703, Copper #705
Spellbinders:  Labels 4, Labels 10
Card:  Green card from stash, Gold mirri card, Mondi IQ 160gsm white paper

As you know, I'm rather keen on Waltzingmouse Stamps - designed by the very talented Claire Brennan.  Last month Claire released the Nutcracker Sweet set - which is forming a large part of my Christmas 2010 collection.  I've already stamped and coloured a number of the Nutcracker and St Nicholas images as toppers for my cards, and I remembered that one of the St Nicholas stamps was coloured purple - which works so well with green.

I used Distress inks to tint the edge of the St Nicholas image and leave a crisp white border around the image.  To make the gold matting layer I used the same die that I used to cut out the image, only this time I drew around the outside of the die and then cut out the shape.  This gives a smaller border than using the next sized die up - that sounds sort of complicated, but I hope you know what I mean!  The greeting was made using Labels 4 (a set I don't use often enough), adding a border from Very Vintage Labels No 4 and the actual words come from Seasons of Love.  I added some sparkle to the card by using Sakura Stardust pens to colour the belt, staff and clasp.  Afterall you have to have some sparkle on Christmas cards.

I'm so pleased to have finished that lot of homework.  Glenda's course has been brilliant - she has given us all so many tips and I've learnt loads.  However, I do have a backlog of homework to do :))  But as it's crafting it's more like play!!

I managed to get into Chester this morning and get my shopping done early, which was fortunate, as the weather this afternoon has been awful.  Rain, rain and more rain!  And it's still pouring now and blowing a gale too. 

Well that's all for today.  I'll be back again tomorrow with a few more cards.