Cheerful Hedgehog Birthday Card

I made this card for my oldest granddaughter about 5 years ago and ran across the pics the other day while looking for something else. So it's about time I shared it, yes? 😄 I love how cheerful this card is. Happy hedgehogs sniffing flowers and floating with a balloon are such sweet images.

Speaking of floating, I made the tiny butterfly float with my usual foam tape because I love dimension, don't I? 

To get the mottled look on the hedgehog's body I colored it using (trying to remember...🤔...different Copics in the warm range of grays. It's possible I threw in some cool grays also. I threw in a bit of pale pinkish red (Copic R00) for a fleshy appearance. Then I took the Copic colorless blender and dotted here and there on the colored areas. This pulled color from the colored areas, creating a mottled look. On the inside, I did a similar thing.

I used the embossing folder on the papers both inside and out, and later I added a piece of white cardstock that I wrote on and adhered to the blue decor paper inside the card (not shown).

For the red accents, I used Copic R14 and R17. 

To get the saying centered on the oval, I stamped onto the paper first, sort of near the edge. Then I flipped the punch upside down and then slid the paper in near the saying so it was visible in the viewing area under the punch. Then I made sure it was lined up just right and punched. This piece is also raised up with foam tape.

I love the papers in this matstack. Some are glittery like the floral one on the front of this card. I wish the craft stores in my area would carry more brands like back in the day when I bought these. All they have now is their own line, which is mostly boring. It's a paper wasteland in Hobby Lobby and Michael's these days. 

Well, I hope you enjoyed this card. It certainly was a joy to create!

Recipe:

Stamps: Penny Black "Critter Party", Stampin' Up! Birthday Greetings

CS: White, DCWV Citrus Matstack decorator papers

Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black, various Copic markers in the W (warm) gray and possibly C (cool) gray range, Copic colorless blender, Copic R00, R14, R17

Other: Cuttlebug Floral Screen embossing folder, Taylored Expressions Large Scallop die, Nestabilities Classic Circle Small die, Nestabilities Classic Scalloped Circle Small die, Stampin' Up! large oval punch, hole punch, punch sponge mat, foam tape, Stamp-a-ma-jig, red and white bobble trim