Hello Stampin’ Friends!

Today’s card features one of my favorite little critters from the Wild Bunch Stamp Set—this adorable koala! I have to admit, I smiled the entire time I was creating him. There’s just something about that sweet face peeking out from all those leaves that makes this card extra special.

One of the things I love most about card making is combining products from different collections to create something unique, and that’s exactly what happened here. The sweet koala from Wild Bunch paired beautifully with the foliage from the Nature’s Symphony Bundle, giving this card a lush, tropical feel.

The background was kept simple with a piece of Garden Poetry Designer Series Paper, and then the fun began! I used that same designer paper to die cut all of the leaves. Layering them in various shades created wonderful dimension and texture, making it look like our little friend is happily nestled among the branches. I absolutely love how all those layers came together!

For the koala, I wanted soft shading and lots of character, so I reached for two favorite coloring tools. The base coloring was done with Smoky Slate Stampin’ Blends, and then I added extra depth and softness with Watercolor Pencils. Combining the two mediums gives the image a hand-painted look while still keeping the coloring easy and fun.

The stitched circle frame helps draw your eye right to the star of the card, and the cheerful sentiment, “You Make Me Smile,” seemed like the perfect finishing touch. After all, that’s exactly what this little guy does!

I hope today’s card inspires you to mix and match products from your own craft room. Sometimes the most unexpected combinations turn out to be the most delightful. Until next time, keep creating, keep experimenting, and most importantly, have fun along the way!