Birthday - Giraffe with Gleaming Gold

Hi, Friends.....

I have a card to share today that was a lot of fun to make.  It's a belated birthday card for a friend who likes animal print decor.  I had found a couple animal print items to give her as gifts and decided to make a matching theme card....the Happy Birthday sentiment is inside the card.  My concept for this card is "Mementos from a Trip to Africa"  with the "photo" of a giraffe and the little "treasures" in the corner.

As you see, I made the gold embossed giraffe the focal point, adding gold photo corners and framing it for accent.  I've had this giraffe in my stash for years and don't remember what brand it is.  I will try to figure that out.  The patterned paper is DCWV Safari Chic and the black cardstock is Coredinations.

Here's a close up of the "gold" and the wooden heart in the corner.  These are "rediscovered" pieces, as I like to call them, that I found at thrift stores.  I LOVE them on here.



The gold punchinella was from my Mom's stash.  She's passed on now for a number of years, but it gives me warm feelings to use her things.  :)



 Here's a close up of the little clothespin (from a set my hubby bought me as a surprise <3 ).  I stained it brown with Walnut Stain Distress Ink.

The little bird is from  Maya Road Vintage Kraft Bird Pins.  I didn't use the pin part.  Instead, I inked with the Walnut Stain and glued the halves together.  Then I sprinkled gold embossing powder on and shook most of it off to leave it only speckled....and heat embossed as usual.  Love the speckled look.

Here's another shot at an angle so you can see the gleam of the gold elements.   LOVE IT!!


I finished up the card with a natural fiber bow and mounted it on a square kraft card base.

Fortunately, I won't have to mail this chunky card since my friend lives locally.  :)
<3
Janis


 I am entering this card in the following challenges:

1.  My Time To Craft Challenge #242 - Wildlife 
2.  Just Add Ink # 209 - Just Add Layers
3.  The Artistic Stamper  April Challenge - Embossing and Texture 
4.  Eclectic Paperie ePlay Challenge - Wood 
5.  Miriam's Crafting Blog 11th Monthly Challenge -- Texture 
6.  Stamplorations April 2014 Challenge -- Stamps & Technique