Penny Black Week at Stamper's Dream

Penny Black has introduced a wonderful new collection of cling-mount images called the Slapstick Collection, and the Stamper's Dream designers are showcasing them (and other PB images) all week long. Also posting today are Denise Marzec and Michelle Rodgers, and their cards are just sweeter than sweet!

I can remember going caroling as a child every December as part of my piano teacher's Christmas party. We'd sing to the neighborhood, botch a few lyrics (or tunes) here and there, freeze our fannies off (usually), and, of course, head back to her house for hot cocoa and cookies. Fun times! I haven't been caroling or welcomed any carolers in years, so I thought it might be fun to use this adorable Caroling Trio image to make caroling invitations for some friends and neighbors. I stamped the image in Versafine Onyx Black onto watercolor paper, clear embossed, and colored with Tombow markers. I added some perimeter sponging using Stampin' Up's Bashful Blue inkpad and a sponge dauber. The sentiment, "a-caroling we will go," is hand-written with a black pigment pen and cut into a banner. My Mind's Eye's Colorful Christmas paper collection had just the right bright, fun look I was going for, and the 1" teal sheer ribbon by May Arts matched perfectly. Martha Stewart punched snowflakes, silver brads, glitter, and some stitching provide the finishing touches.

[ETA: I was feeling a bit like the farmer's wife when my Spellbinders die cut off the mice tails. To fix that, I stamped the image a second time, cut out the tails, extending on into the body about a 1/2 inch. Then I used a craft knife to make tiny slits on the original image right at the base of the tail. I threaded my new tail sliver through that slit and secured on the back. Even in real life, you almost can't tell they've been added back on.]

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Hugs,