Feeling Squirrely? Make A Cute Card!

Make this squirrely card for your friends and family that love forest creatures! Learn how with step-by-step instructions.

When the latest release from Gina K Designs came out I couldn't resist the cute little animals that are created with the combination of the Forest Friends and the Forest Friends Additions stamp sets. An added benefit is that you get this set of squirrels because there is one in each set.

To make the card we begin with stamping them facing each other onto an A2 piece of white cardstock. We do this with black multi-media ink. We use this kind of ink because we're going to color the images with alcohol markers and we don't want the outlines to bleed.

Squirrely Coloring

As you can see from the photos we're going to make one of the squirrels a little redder than the other. We'll use the following Copic alcohol markers for the brown squirrel:

We're going to use the same process for both of the squirrels. The only difference will be the colors that we use.

• E23 – lightest brown
• E27 – medium brown
• E29 – darkest brown

And, we'll use these for the red squirrel:

• E97 – lightest red
• E99 – medium red
• E29 – darkest red

To color the squirrels we'll begin with the lightest color and color in the entire image. And then we'll add in the darkest color where the shadows will be the darkest. For example, we'll use the darkest on the tail where it shows behind the squirrel and on the ear where it peeks out behind his head. Then we'll blend the two with the mid-tone.

We'll be using W1 on both. And again, we'll be using it to add shadows on the white sections of the squirrel. Places like under the chin, behind where their arms are, and on the edge of their bellies.

When we're done with the squirrels we'll color in some grass to ground them. Using the darkest green we'll add it closest to the squirrels to add some shading. And then we'll come in around that with the lighter tone of green.

Background

We'll begin by masking off the squirrels so that we can blend the background. We can do this by stamping each squirrel onto masking paper, fussy cutting them out, and then adhering them to the stamped images. Or we could just hold a piece of paper over them while we blend.

Then we can just lightly blend some blue ink over the top two-thirds or so of the card panel. And we want to use a circular motion while we are blending.

Squirrely Card Assembly

When we're done with the blending we'll trim the card panel to 3 3/4″ x 5″. We can use a die to trim the card. We would do so because the die ensures that the rectangle is square. And we could add a stitched border if we use a stitched rectangle die.

Then we can use the same die set to cut a 3 7/8′ x 5 1/8″ from black cardstock. And then we'll attach the card panel centered over the black panel with an adhesive runner. As a result, the thin frame of black really makes the card pop.

Now we'll add some more adhesive and center the card panel on the color panel and then attach the whole thing to a card base.

Squirrely Sentiment

The last thing we'll do is to create a sentiment using foil. There are a number of ways you can do this. To create custom sentiments you can use a laser printer to print out your sentiment. And then you cut a piece of foil and lay it over the sentiment, put it inside a processing folder, and run it through a laminating machine like the Heidi Swapp Minc Machine.

You can also buy sheets of sentiments pre-printed with toner ink or you could use a hot foil system like the Spellbinders Glimmer. BTW there is a really good sale (36% off) on the Glimmer in the link at the time this post was published.

For this card, we use gold foil on black cardstock and then popped it up with a scrap of double-sided adhesive foam.

Supplies

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• Cardstock: Card base – Neenah Classic Crest 110lb Solar White; Card panel – Neenah Classic Crest 80lb Solar White; Color panel – Gina K Designs Fresh Asparagus; Black Layer –Gina K Designs Black Onyx
• Stamps: Gina K Designs Forest Friends, Forest Friends Additions
• Die: Gina K Designs Master Layouts 2
• Ink: Multi-media Hero Arts Black Intens-ified; Altenew Crisp Dye Ink Caribbean Sky
• Alcohol Markers: Copic Sketch E97, E99, E29, W1, E23, E27
• Masking Paper: Gina K Designs Masking Magic
• Adhesives: Gina K Designs Dot Adhesive Runner; Scrapbook.com Double-sided Adhesive Foam Sheet
• Foil: Heidi Swapp Reactive Foil
• Laminating Machine: Heidi Swapp Minc Machine
• Hot Foil Machine: Spellbinders Glimmer

Looking for More Critter Card Ideas?

Check out Woof! DIY Card How To's For Hug Your Hound Day.